Dairy Forum delivers €1,350 top up for farmers before Christmas – Creed

Fine Gael TD for Cork North West, Michael Creed has said that the Dairy Forum has led to the implementation by Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney of a top up package of €1,350 for dairy farmers in Cork.
“When I put forward the suggestion of the Dairy Forum it was my hope that its work would lead to positive news for dairy farmers. The announcement of the €1,350 top of for dairy farmers is a great success for the Dairy Forum and testament of its merit.
“This direct aid package of €27.4 million is made up of €13.7 million of EU funding and a further €13.7 million in matching national funding.
“The payment will be made on a flat rate basis and means that dairy farmers in Cork and across the country will each receive approximately €1,350. This top-up funding is to be made to farmers before Christmas and I know it will be an important boost to them, particularly as many are experiencing cash-flow problems.
“There will be an additional €800 top-up for young dairy farmers in Cork, which will be made in early 2016.
“This has been a very difficult year for the dairy sector in Ireland and I know that farmers here in Cork have been feeling the effects of the market downturn. Speaking to farmers I know that cash-flow has been a particular problem.
“The additional funding announced today for farmers comes on top of the 70% advance payment also agreed as part of this package and which has now delivered over €1 billion to farmers in the last two months.
“There is no doubt but that these are difficult times for dairy farmers in Cork but this Government is committed to continuing to work for them. Fine Gael has a long term plan to keep the recovery going and part of this plan is to ensure we support and assist our farmers, who are the backbone of this country and our economy.”