'I can see a lot of people going out of business' in the agricultural sector - Leitrim farmer

A Leitrim farmer has spoken out after the government signed off on more than €500 million in measures to support those struggling with rising energy costs.

The measures include a further 10c cut in excise on both petrol and diesel to the end of July as well as a new reduction of 2.4c on green diesel and carbon tax increases have been delayed until the Budget in October.

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Cllr Paddy O'Rourke said that: "I don't think they did enough for green diesel and it's disappointing. I know they're hamstrung because they have nearly on the excise duty gone of it now but the reality is that it would have taken upwards of 50cent to make a significant impact and there are businesses that will cease as a result of this, whether we like it or not."

He continued that he believed that the fuel crisis was going to effect the agricultural sector in a number of different ways. "Fodder won't be made in preparation for next winter which in turn, could result in welfare issues in some farms. To some, that may sound exaggerated but believe you me, with the knowledge I have of the agricultural industry up and down the country, I can see a lot of people going out of business; I can see nobody replacing them and there will be work left undone."

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He added that the poor Spring that Ireland has been experiencing this year has not helped the situation. "I know the government can't help the weather but because of the rascal of a Spring that we've had, all work is behind time. A lot of farmers don't even have their fertiliser sewn yet in preparation for next Winter's fodder. All that work has to be undertaken so the whole thing is just a perfect storm coming together."

He said that he would have welcomed a cap on green diesel: "A straight forward capping of the price of green diesel would have gone some way; the same for the road diesel. They chose not to do that and do something that is another burden on people to have to get everything in order to get a paltry benefit. There are a lot of sole traders who aren't registered hauliers and there's nothing in it for them."