AGRIBUSINESS:NOT MANY sectors have reacted to the emergency budget with relief, but Ireland's racing industry was left in an "as-you-were" situation for 2009.
Horse racing’s government funding for this year remains untouched at almost €55 million under the Horse Greyhound Fund and that allocation is expected to be ratified by the Dáil next week.
The decision was welcomed by the sport’s ruling body, Horse Racing Ireland, while Jim Kavanagh of the Irish Racehorse Trainers’ Association said: “If prizemoney levels were to be affected, then that would have an impact on jobs and that is particularly important since so many of our jobs are in rural areas.”
Farm organisations have expressed disappointment at the cutting of forestry, environmental, cow premium and aid for disposing of dead animals in the Budget. Both the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) have also criticised the doubling of the income levy on gross income which takes no account of capital expenditure.
Pádraig Walshe, the IFA president, said the cut of 17 per cent in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme would impact severely on the incomes of 12,000 farmers who had committed themselves to significant environmental costs for the next four years.
Jackie Cahill, the ICMSA president, said the Budget had fallen on the farming sector in a manner which was both disproportionate and counterproductive following on the substantial cuts made in the Department of Agriculture’s budget last October.
However, the most critical aspect of the Budget, according to Mr Cahill, was that the banks, “who were rescued again” must be ordered to make credit facilities available immediately to farms and the business sector.