The upcoming budget must be as farmer friendly as possible.

This is according to IFA President Joe Healy, who believes the ‘Brexit budget’ should contain practical measures to improve competitiveness and provide support for farm incomes.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Galway native said he believes that the budget should place significant emphasis on counteracting the effects of Brexit.

“The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe must make good on his commitment to frame October’s Budget in the context of the sterling weakness arising from the Brexit uncertainty,” Healy said

Listen to "Joe Healy's budget expectations" on Spreaker.

“This means making available further low-cost bank financing to farmers, increasing funding for the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) and equalising the Earned Income and PAYE tax credits,” he continued.

Expenditure in upcoming budget

Calls were also made for the government to introduce new expenditure measures in the upcoming budget, including:

  • Provision of government-supported low-cost loans for farming enterprises.
  • Funding for ANCs to reach €225m, thus beginning the process of restoring ANC payments to 2008 levels.
  • Increased funding of €25m for the Beef Data and Genomics Programme.
  • €5m in funding be allocated to the Sheep Welfare Scheme
  • An increase in funding for the Fair Deal Scheme

    • Taxation

    IFA Farm Business chairman Martin Stapleton highlighted that taxation measures to address various issues including income volatility and the income tax discrimination between self-employed and employees.

    Supporting intergenerational transfer and farm restructuring, must also be implemented in Budget 2018 according to Stapleton.

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