Macra raise issue of support for agri students with minister

Macra na Feirme has today (Wednesday, September 9) met the ministerial team in the Department of Agriculture to highlight issues of importance to young farmers.

Speaking after the meeting, Macra na Feirme president, Thomas Duffy, said: “Macra na Feirme were delighted to meet with Minister Charlie McConalogue and Ministers for State Hackett and Heydon to outline our budget priorities, CAP concerns and Brexit issues.”

The government announced a €15m fund to bridge the digital divide among third level students during the pandemic, but unfortunately, agricultural students and colleges have been excluded from this programme, Marca pointed out.

Recently, the government announced that some of this €15m fund had been used to mass-purchase 17,000 laptops for students in universities and institutes of technology.

Mr Duffy said: “Macra na Feirme highlighted the lack of fairness and equality that is facing students entering and returning to Ireland’s agricultural colleges. “We have called on Minister McConalogue and the department to make the necessary funds available to support agricultural students in equal measure to other students across the third level network.”

“We highlighted the need to ensure that a national reserve for young farmers is created for the coming year.

“Every year, having a national reserve scheme for young farmers is an encouragement for new entrants to farming. It is crucial that the department open the scheme for 2021.”

(Photo above: Macra na Feirme national president Thomas Duffy with chief executive officer Denis Duggan discussing young farmer issues with Minister Charlie McConalogue, Minister of State Pippa Hackett, and Minister of State Martin Heydon.)