ICMSA ask for extension to Forgotten Farmer Scheme – “Farmers won’t have time to get their records within the time the DAFM is insisting on!”

The Deputy President of ICMSA, Eamon Carroll, has repeated his call on the Minister of Agriculture Food and the Marine to extend the closing date for applications for the Forgotten Farmer Scheme from August 13 to the end of September. Mr Carroll said that it was proving near impossible for affected farmers to get their paperwork together within what he said was always “too tight” a timeframe

“There are numerous instances where farmers who are trying to apply for the scheme can’t contact their advisors who are on normal holidays. Even more frustrating are the cases where farmers are trying to attain their relevant records from their Agriculture College that are closed over the summer.  It would surely make sense for the application deadline to be pushed to at least 30 September when normal administration resumes, and it would be that much easier to access the records and information that the Department itself is insisting accompany applications to the Scheme?”

Mr. Carroll said that the scheme’s introduction was a positive step, and he said it would be “a shame” if an unrealistic deadline and excessively restrictive conditions wiped out the good intentions the announcement represented. He also said it was “very obvious” that there would have to be a Phase Two that dealt with those excluded

“There is still significant concern that the ‘cut-off’ date of December 31, 2007, has excluded many farmers — the very individuals who began farming just as we were about to enter a period of national economic hardship with very limited supports for young farmers.  In the context of the calls and feedback we are getting – that are surely being communicated to the other stakeholders – it’s very obvious that we need a second tranche or Phase Two that deals with those individuals. We don’t think the numbers are excessive and neither would the amounts involved. But they have a completely valid case to be covered, and we think that on reflection the Minister would be wise to fix ‘all’ the problem, once and for all”, concluded Mr. Carroll, who also chairs ICMSA’s Farm Services Committee.

Ends          7 August 2025

Eamon Carroll, 087-6312945

Deputy President, ICMSA

Or

Cathal MacCarthy, 087-6168758

ICMSA Press Office