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Senator Róisín Garvey has asked for the Community Employment (CE) programme to be opened up to more participants than currently allowed as a way of helping to combat rural isolation. During a Seanad debate on the Department of Social Protection’s response to Covid-19 yesterday (Monday, February 1), the Green Party senator raised the issue of rural isolation. The CE programme is designed to help people who are long-term unemployed (or otherwise disadvantaged) to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities. The senator feels that while there are farmers “who may have means”, there are those who also “may not have a social life” and want to join the schemes but are not eligible to do so. ....
Acceleration of remote working “will help the viability of small farms” according to the experts, but factors such as access to broadband continue to impact those in rural areas. This was one of the key takeaway points from the launch of this year’s Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV) Farming Report, which took place yesterday (Tuesday, January 26). 2020 was labelled as a “torrid year” – but one that also had a “silver lining for land values”. With prices going for up to €20,000/ac, “securing finance to purchase land remains a real challenge”, and “banks will often look for an additional income stream” according to one auctioneer. ....