Illogical Government Policy – Why close a scheme that is 75% funded by the EU

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Artois

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Page 2 of today’s Irish Times runs an article entitled “Farmers to vent fury at REPS closure”

It appears that the Irish Government has decided to close the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme.

The scheme which was designed to reward farmers for taking steps to protect the Environment and was 75% funded by Europe. By cutting this scheme the Economy looses out on these huge transfers from Europe and the farmers end up on the DOLE. Surely we should not be refusing money from Europe.


Obviously the country must be bust if we cannot find €1 of every 4 for this scheme. Keeping the scheme would appear to be a better investment and cheaper for the Irish government than paying dole to increased numbers of farmers
 
Scheme is of a finite duration and every farmer must reapply at least once every five years
 
Why didn't all farmers apply for the current scheme if it's such a great deal? They had record number of applicants so some obviously knew what was up, why didn't the farmers associations ensure that all their members had signed up?
 
ajapale said:
.....Because the scheme does not represent good value for money for EU taxpayers.
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Sure that makes sense if it is an EU budget decision however, this decision appears to have been an Irish Government cut
 
dereko1969 said:
Why didn't all farmers apply for the current scheme if it's such a great deal? They had record number of applicants so some obviously knew what was up, why didn't the farmers associations ensure that all their members had signed up?
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Farmers' 'contracts' for the scheme start and finish at varying times. REPS 2,3 and 4 overlap. A farmer could have another year to run on his REPS 2 contract and would not be applying for the next one until his current arrangement runs out. So it was the luck of the draw that the farmers in the current scheme got the timing right.

Is there an equivalent scheme for city folk where you get a grant for keeping your garden tidy, painting the house or putting a bird feeder up in the tree?
 
Artois said:
Obviously the country must be bust if we cannot find €1 of every 4 for this scheme. Keeping the scheme would appear to be a better investment and cheaper for the Irish government than paying dole to increased numbers of farmers
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There are two separate points here.

1. The country is in a really bad way and costs must be cut. It doesn't matter what percentage comes from Europe, the rest comes from us therefore it's a cost and may be cut.

2. If the farm isn't viable without subsidies, giving it an unrelated subsidy based on an EU grant which may end at any time just wastes money by propping up an uneconomical business and helping it limp along.

If farms can be merged into larger, more efficient farms (with stronger selling power), perhaps that's a good thing and will save the agriculture industry in Ireland. I agree we should do our best to preserve our argri-industry but that doesn't mean supporting everyone who wants to be a farmer by paying them to be green.
 
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