IFA: Changes To Fair Deal "Long Overdue".

Wednesday, 12 May 2021 09:57

Cabinet has signed off on amendments to the scheme.

Changes to the State's nursing home scheme which will reduce the financial burden on farmers is "long overdue".

That's according to the Irish Farmers' Association after Cabinet signed off on amendments to the Fair Deal scheme.

New legislation will introduce a three-year cap on financial contributions for farmers and small business owners, when calculating the cost for nursing home care.

Currently, they have to set aside 7.5 percent of the value of their land every year to fund a place in a nursing home, and there's no cap on contributions.

President of the IFA, Tim Cullinan, says it's brought huge stress and worry on families:

The scheme as it stands is fundamentally unfair. It is bringing huge stress and worry on farm families, placing a question over farm viability while they wait on the Government to acthttps://t.co/qUgA1eFdst
— Irish Farmers' Association (@IFAmedia) May 11, 2021

Tim Cullinan says it's a very emotive issue for farm families:

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