Fianna Fáil supports fishers, farmers and rural Ireland
Published on: 22 November 2024
Fianna Fáil will ensure Rural Ireland remains a great place to live, work and raise a family in
Fianna Fáil will today outline its vision for Agriculture, fisheries and Rural Ireland.
The party believes Ireland’s family farms and the agrifood sector as a whole are not only our most important indigenous industries but that they also have an immense social and cultural importance to our country.
Commenting on the party’s vision, Minister for Agriculture, Food and The Marine, Charlie McConalogue, said: "Fianna Fáil sought the Agriculture portfolio in 2020 because of the absolute priority we place on supporting our fishers and farmers.
“In Government, we introduced unmatched farm supports. This is because we recognise the hard work farmers do, and we recognise it must be given the economic backing to drive investment and production. Since 2020, we have paid out over €9 billion to farmers to support family farms.
“Our commitment to fishers and farmers is as strong today as it has ever been.
“Put simply, the manifestos and commitments of the other parties do not match our ambition in offering major supports to farmers and fishers.
“If returned to Government we will ensure that Irish farming families are not scapegoated by climate action, we will continue to fight hard to retain the Nitrates Derogation as a national priority and we will increase direct supports to farmers’ incomes.
“Fianna Fáil believes in the future of Irish agriculture and rural Ireland, believes we can achieve our environmental objectives while growing the agrifood sector and is committed to making sure that farming remains a vital part of Ireland’s society and economy.”
Commenting on the party’s vision and deep commitment to Rural Ireland, Minister for Education, Norma Foley, said: "Fianna Fáil will drive forward and coordinate a new era of support for community development.
“We firmly believe in equality of opportunity and will ensure those living in Rural Ireland have equal access to excellence in education.
“A key part of our vision is a new €13m Small Schools Initiative to support our schools with four teachers or less.
“Small schools are the lifeblood of any rural community. In government, we protected these schools by providing them with more staff, providing greater support to teaching principals and increasing their funding.
“We want to support them further through a new Small Schools Initiative, which will provide €13 million to small schools for additional administrative and leadership supports.
“We will also reduce the Pupil:Teacher ratio to 19:1 which will provide significant assistance to small schools and expand the School Transport Service to include 100,000 students by 2030."
Dr Martin Daly, Candidate in Roscommon-Galway said: "Fianna Fáil is committed to ensuring those living in Rural Ireland have access to healthcare close to home.
“As GP based in a rural area, I am acutely aware of the need to increase provision of healthcare across Rural Ireland.
“This is extraordinarily important to myself and my party and that is why, if returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will increase the number of GPs by 1,500 and ensure full national coverage for GP on Call.
“We will continue to invest in local cancer support groups, achieve full national coverage of hospice and community services and ensure rural Ireland remains a great place in which to live, work and raise a family.”
-ENDS-
