ELECTION 2020: Thousands of farming families left ‘high and dry’ by Government – Kilkenny TD

Thousands of families have been left “high and dry” by the outgoing government’s failure to implement changes to the Fair Deal Scheme, a local TD has said.

Carlow-Kilkenny TD Bobby Aylward said “crucial changes” that were promised to farmers in 2017 have never materialised.

Deputy Aylward, who is seeking to be re-elected as a Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, said: “They [changes] are seen as a game-changer in how farms and businesses are treated under the Fair Deal Scheme.

“Yet nothing was done by the Government to really push this legislation over the second half of 2019. Meanwhile families are left wondering how they will cover the costs of a nursing home for their loved ones.

“Under current rules, participants contribute up to 80% of their income and up to 7.5% of the value of any assets to the cost of care. The value of the home is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in a care, otherwise known as the three-year cap.”

Deputy Aylward added: “I have spoken to members of farming families who decided to wait until the proposals were made law before applying to the scheme. Here we are in early 2020 and there seems to be no solution in sight for those affected.

“The next government must live up to the promises made to farmers and business people and bring forward legislation to implement the changes to Fair Deal as a matter of priority.”