Kitt welcomes farming and flooding funding in Budget 2010

Posted on 10/12/09 by Michael P Kitt

Galway East Fianna Fáil TD Michael Kitt has welcomed funding commitments made in Budget 2010 to the farming sector and to assist areas that experienced flooding in recent weeks.

 

 

€70 million has been allocated to help victims of the flooding and to conduct studies to alleviate flood risks, and a number of important farming funds have been maintained at 2009 levels, he said.

 

 

Welcoming the funding Deputy Kitt said: “The Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan TD confirmed yesterday that he is making €70 million available to help areas that have been affected by the recent flooding.”

 

 

“In Galway East we experienced some of the worst flooding and I will continue to work with the communities affected to ensure that they receive their rightful share of this funding.”

 

 

“The detail of how the fund will be allocated has yet to be confirmed but I believe that a proportion of it should be used to start a system of effective river management and maintenance.”

 

 

“I also believe that a single statutory body should be established to manage rivers. This is the best way forward to avoid the kind of flooding we have seen in the last month.”

 

 

“I am happy that the farming community have been provided for in the Budget with many key schemes being maintained at 2009 levels. Both the Disadvantaged Area Scheme and the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme are being maintained at the same levels as this year, REPS payments are continuing and a payment of up to €5,000 will be made to farmers under the new agri-environmental scheme in 2010.”

 

 

“Some €330 million will be spent on agri-environment schemes next year.”

 

 

“The Dáil has also approved an additional €15 million for the Farm Improvement Scheme this year, bringing the total spent in the scheme this year to €30 million. The 2010 estimate allocated a further €19 million to the scheme, an increase of 27 per cent on the original allocation this year.”

 

 

“A tax relief will be introduced from the income levy for capital expenditure incurred by farmers specifically for the purpose of complying with the EU Nitrates Directive.”

 

 

“Farmers have suffered considerably in recent times because of low prices and poor weather and they need this financial support,” concluded Michael Kitt TD.