National training fund surplus
Senator Lawlor asked for a debate on the national training fund, noting its growing surplus and asking how the money would be spent. Senator Gallagher then raised the beef price crisis and criticised the absence of key stakeholders at a meeting.
Yesterday, we had a debate on the Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill. Could the Leader ask the Minister for Education and Skills, who administers the training fund, if he would come to the House to discuss the national training fund? In 2019, there will be a surplus in the training fund of €300 million. Last year there was a surplus of €200 million. Through the introduction of an additional 0.1% levy there is potential for another surplus in 2020 of €400 million. We are cumulatively gathering up quite rapidly close to €1 billion of a surplus in the fund. Where will the money be spent? In the past, money from funds of this type has been misused. I would welcome and appreciate an indication from the Minister as to what will be done with the fund.
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The tractors may be gone from the gates of Leinster House but, unfortunately, the beef protest continues. We learn today that the IFA has mounted a protest outside the Aldi distribution centre in Naas, County Kildare. The IFA, among other farm voices, has been calling for action on price increases for their beef.
One can see from the beef price index that Irish farmers are clearly not getting next or near what they should be getting compared to their colleagues in the UK or in Europe. In some cases, Irish farmers are taking €80 per head less for their animals than farmers in the UK or across Europe are taking. This clearly is not good enough.
I know that the beef task force met last Tuesday. I was very disappointed to learn that the Minister was not present at that meeting. It took a long time to get everyone around the table on this particular issue. I am flabbergasted that the lead man, in this instance a Minister, was not present. It is an insult to the farmers throughout the length and breadth of this country that the man with total and ultimate responsibility for farming matters in this country was not present at that opening meeting-----
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-----which I am very disappointed to hear. This issue has not been treated with the urgency it deserves. Farm families across rural Ireland are on their knees. They are simply not getting a fair price for their product. We need, through the Minister, to shine a light on exactly what is happening in the meat industry. I was also disappointed to learn that retailers were not present at that meeting either.
Can the Leader pass on my frustration and anger to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and ask him to get the grip on this situation? This is going to get worse. Farmers are on their knees and they are not prepared to take any more. They need a fair price for their product and the time is long overdue that they got it.