Sinn Féin councillor, Oonagh Magennis has said that farmers need certainty now for what funding the British Government will provide to replace the EU funding lost by Brexit.
The Slieve Gullion councillor said:
“I have brought forward a motion calling on the council to write to the British Government and the DAERA Permanent Secretary and urge them to urgently give clarity to farmers here on support to replace the EU funding which will be lost after 2024.
“Farmers need certainty around this urgently, so to see this motion sent back to committee is very frustrating.
“Almost £300 million of Farm payments comes into the North from the EU, with over £26.5million into Newry and Armagh.
“With these supports representing over 80% of many farmers’ income, their loss will be felt by over 40,000 farmers and workers across the north.
“These direct payments are vital to the survival and the social and economic sustainability of our farming and Rural communities’
“Our farmers need certainty around this funding and they need it as soon as possible.”
ENDS/CRÍOCH
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