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CLARE farmers have seen an in- come drop of almost 30 per cent in the last 12 months.

That is according to new research issued by the Central Statistics Of- fice last week, which indicates that farmers in Ireland have been affected worse than any other farmers in Eu- rope by the recent “collapse” in farm income margins.

The results have come as a result of ongoing poor commodity prices, Government cuts, unprecedented poor weather conditions and the con- tinued weakness of sterling which 1s damaging Irish agriculture exports

to the UK.

Reacting to the figures, IFA presi- dent Padraig Walshe said that it has been a devastating year for farm families in Ireland.

“The agriculture minister must re- flect the dreadful income situation in farming at cabinet and deliver a proper funded REPS scheme for farmers leaving REPS 2 and 3. He must also ensure there are no further cuts or additional costs imposed on the sector,’ he said.

“The stark reality is that aver- age farm income is now between €13,000 and €16,000 for full time farmers. The Government proposal to close REPS is simply not a run-

ner as it will collapse the already dire incomes of at least 20,000 drystock farmers and leave them with incomes below €10,000.

‘Already cuts in vital schemes to- talling €130 million have impacted severely on farm income. Govern- ment expenditure on farm schemes accounts for less than one per cent of total net Government expendi- ture and if equity is to prevail, cuts already imposed on the sector must be reversed.”

The IFA president called for the Government to support the pro- ductive agriculture sector through maintaining funding for vital farm schemes and ensure that changes to

the taxation system are equitably ap- plied and do not undermine the com- petitiveness of the export sectors.

‘The carbon tax would further in- crease production cost by €17.5 mil- lion per year which is a further 1 per cent cut in national farm income,’ continued Mr Walshe.

“The minister should exempt farming from this tax because no alternatibe fuels are available, farmers cannot pass on the extra cost to the market and any further income cuts to the sector would be intolerable.

“This situation already exists in France where farmers are refunded the cost of the carbon tax there.”

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THE Labour Party revival in Clare has seen the formation of a new branch in the west.

It once had a party stronghold in west Clare, providing the first female chairperson of Kilrush Town Coun- cil, but in the last number of years the party had lost support and mem- bership.

At an open meeting of the party in Kilrush last week however, the latest branch of the party has been formed.

Constituency Chairman Michael Corley reminded the meeting that,

“west Clare has had in the past a strong tradition of Labour Party rep- resentation down through the years, there have been strong and dedicated representatives pushing for a fairer and more equal society for the peo- ple of Kilrush and the rest of west Oren

Labour councillor Tony McMahon said the turnout was a testament to the level of concern that people have for the social fabric of the commu- nity. “Everyone here is concerned about the problems that affect Kil- rush and west Clare and I believe that it is in the hands of individuals com- ing together in this community that

these problems will be solved. I en- courage everyone here to be proud of this step taken in bringing together a force for positive change in Kilrush and West Clare.”

A spokesperson for the party said that the formation of new branches throughout the county overcomes the perception that Labour is an urban and east coast party.

‘The Labour Party is ready to pro- vide a new leadership and direction to Ireland where the insanity of give- away tax-breaks and the protection of the wealthy at the expense PAYE workers, small business owners and the most vulnerable in society will

not be an option. We believe in a so- ciety where fairness and equality are the guiding principles of how a gov- ernment should plan for its people,” he said.

A wide range of topics were dis- cussed in the meeting including “Government attacks on rural life’, the proposal to cut Government sup- port for the Rural Transport Pro- gramme, and the high rate of unem- ployment and youth unemployment in the county.

More than 10,000 people in Clare are without jobs at the moment and the number of people under 25 with- out work is almost at 2,000 in Clare.