A Midlands North West MEP has said that he is not surprised that degressivity measures, aimed at reducing the highest CAP payments in order to increase supports to other farmers, have failed.

Matt Carthy MEP, who said that they have been a failure, was referring to information received in a Written Question he submitted to the commission about the measures.

He said CAP is failing farmers who need it most in order to protect the wealthiest and largest farm enterprises.

He said: “The Commission regularly claims that it has taken effective action to reduce farm payment inequality.

“The headline action was the introduction of degressivity as part of the 2013 reforms. It was agreed at the time that payments over €150,000 would be digressive.

“Unfortunately the measure was immediately diluted by the provision of Member State flexibility to decide by how much they would reduce the monster payments.  The majority of Member States decided to do the minimum by applying just a 5% reduction.

“When the Member States notified the Commission of the estimated result of the reduction of the payments mechanism, for the five years 2015-2019, a figure of €553 million was given. This equates to €111 million being reduced through digressively annually.

“In 2016 direct payments amount to €41 billion, making the prospective savings gained that year a little over a quarter of 1%.  This is hardly the necessary radical rebalancing of payments that the Commission promised.

“The response to a written question I submitted to Commissioner Hogan unearths the true extent of the measures inadequacy.  The information provided clarifies that for the two years for which figures are available less than €200 million has been redistributed; €98 million in 2016 and down to 79 million in 2017.

“On those figures, by the end of 2019, the target will have been fell short of by over €100 million.  This is €100million that could and should have been redistributed to farmers currently receiving lower payments.

“Such underwhelming results should provide the Commission with the impetus to finally address the inequalities in farm payments through the new CAP process.  Unfortunately Phil Hogan’s proposals simply tweak a broken system rather than attempt to fix the inherent unfairness that sees 80% of CAP payments go to the wealthiest 20% of farm enterprises.

“Plans for putting in place an upper payment limit capping in the new CAP have been deliberately riddled with loopholes to such an extent that representatives of the European Commission have informed me, in an assuring way, that larger payment recipients will not be affected by the changes to any great extent.

“The CAP process is failing to support those farmers who need it most in order to protect the wealthiest and largest farm enterprises.  This needs to change.

“I, and Sinn Fein, will continue to campaign for a fairer distribution of farm payments so that we can guarantee Irish farmers a viable future for generations to come”.

The publication of the Government’s National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy has been welcomed by Galway Simon Community.

The local charity has said that immediate action now needs to be taken in order for the strategy to start having an impact on the homelessness crisis in Galway.

They also said that focusing on the reuse of vacant properties in Galway in the short term will provide homes for those who urgently need across the city and county.

According to the 2016 Census, there were 9,646 vacant homes in County Galway, a vacant rate of 12.3% and 2,841 in the City, a vacant rate of 8.4%.

With 292 adults in emergency accommodation in Galway, as well as hundreds more sleeping rough, sofa surfing, ‘hidden homeless’ or living in homeless services, the charity says bringing some of these vacant homes back into use would provide welcome additional housing.

Karen Golden, CEO of Galway Simon Community said the strategy could make a significant impact in addressing the current crisis and must be implemented as a matter of urgency.

“We welcome the Minister’s announcement and the publication of the long awaited Vacant Homes Strategy. Improving the effectiveness of the management of housing stock in Galway and across the country is a matter that requires urgent constructive intervention.

“Bringing vacant properties back into active use will provide additional housing which in turn will relieve pressure on some of the people who are currently experiencing the stress and trauma of homelessness and housing instability.

“We need to have forensic examination of Local Authority housing stock with additional funding mechanisms structured to incentivise a swift turnaround of these properties back into use.

“The Simon Communities have been highlighting the potential of vacant homes for some considerable time now and last year, we published our Ten Point Plan which looked at solutions to addressing vacant homes across Ireland.

“There is reference within the National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy  to exploration of possible taxation measures. Homes empty for more than 12 months should be subject to a vacant property tax.

“Introducing measures such as the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) and Compulsory Leasing Orders (CLOs) should also be considered.

“ Ultimately, this would mean that homes which lie vacant for a long period of time could be leased by Local Authorities for use as social housing.

“Uptake of the Repair and Lease scheme has been low and this should be reviewed with targets revised upwards, ensuring the schemes can attract the greatest number of homeowners possible.

“We welcome the commitment to engage with the Housing Agency and Approved Housing Bodies. AHBs must be supported to the greatest extent to participate in this process given their proven track record in providing housing services to those that need them most. Priority must be given to those with the greatest housing needs.

“The use of vacant properties alone will not solve the current crisis or prevent future housing crises but it can make a significant contribution to reducing the numbers experiencing homelessness. In addition, this government and future governments must ensure the building and delivery of sustainable social and affordable housing in Galway and across the country in order to prevent a housing crisis of this magnitude happening again.”

Gardaí have launched a criminal investigation after a dog has been discovered beaten to death in Ballinasloe.

Shannonside FM reported that the incident happened at Hymany Park in Ballinasloe earlier this week.

It is understood that the 8-month-old dog was attacked and died inhumanely.

The dog’s body was discovered yesterday morning by a member of the public.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballinasloe Garda Station at 09096-31890.

Last week, 16 puppies were rescued after being left without food and water and locked in a horse trailer.  

They were covered in fleas and lice, and had roundworm.

There are seven puppies fighting for survival after the co-ordinated rescue by Galway County Council’s dog control and veterinary services and Gardaí.