Clare IFA Chair Says Fuel Support Payments "Almost Tokenism"

The Chair of the Clare branch of the Irish Farmers Association says the fuel supports being received by the sector this week "almost boil down to tokenism." The Government has commenced payments totalling €563,769 to 1,326 Clare farmers and Agri Contractors under the first round of the Fuel Income Support Scheme. The Department of Agriculture claims the average payment will be €4,000 per Agri Contractor and €600 per farmer to offset increased fuel costs incurred between March and July. Clare IFA Chair and Feakle farmer Stephen Walsh believes it's not going far enough.