THE cost of a visit by the vet to a farm in Connemara is set to inerease by anything up to 40% as a resuit of the ending of a subsidy that bas been in existence for 24 years.

Údarás na Gaeltachta brought in the subsidy in 1985 when vets in Connernara said that it was not worthwhile for them to stay in business. The Údarás has now been told by the Department for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs - the Department in ultimate control of Údarás na Gaeltachta- that the subsidy must stop.

Clifden vet Maurice Ó Scannaili said this week that it would be a hard blow for small farmers in Connemara.

He said that the cost of a call to attend to a sick anmial in places such as South Connemara would now be around €2OO.

The subsidy was introduced by Údarás na Gaeltachta in the mid- l98Os - following complaints from vets in the area that they could not continue to provide services at rates that would be affordable to local farmers.

The vets claimhed that the nature of farming in Connemara, the long distances and bad roads made it uneconomical for them to work there. But the recent letter from the Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs Departrnent has ended the long standing arrangement.

Councillor Seosamh Ó Cuaig who is also a member of the Údarás na Gaeltachta board said this week that it was widely accepted over a quarter of a century that the subsidy was needed in Connemara.

"I do not see what has suddenly changed" Ó Cuaig said.

However, in a Radio na Gaeltachta interview Rural Affairs and Gaeltacht Minister, Éamon Ó Cuiv said that he would to sit down and discuss the matter with Councillor Ó Cuaig to see if there was a need for the subsidy now.

Councillor Ó Cuaig said he would discuss matters with the Minister any time but that he had no intention of talking about the need for the veterinary subsidy.

"I arn convinced there is a need for it and it has been proven over tiine, too" Seosamh Ó Cuaig said. "The rate of charges without the subsidy could be a fateful blow to small farming."

Clifden based vet Maurice Ó Scannaili said that the Connemara farming situation differed from other areas.

He said that it had been widely accepted that there were aspects of agriculture in Connemara that posed particular challenges.

"This subsidy arrangement has been in operation for almost 25 years and nobody north or south in other Gaeltachts or rural areas said it was wrong or unfair", Mr Ó Scannaili said.

Meanwhile, the role of Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG) has come to the fore.

This State funded agency with a role in community development in the Gaeltacht (much like the rural Leader programmes in other areas) was suggested by the Department as a possible source of funds for the veterinary service.

It is understood that Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta wrote to the Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs Department some time ago in order to find out if they (MFG) could look at providing the veterinary subsidy in Connemara. No reply has been received to that letter yet

Councillor Seosamh Ó Cuaig, who is a member of the Board of MFG said he will be raising the matter at their next meeting.

"While small farming has changed it remains a very important aspect of life in Connemara", Ó Cuaig said.

"Let's look, for example, at the importance of the Connemara pony our only native breed of pony. Connemara is their homeland and heartland and they are quite plentiful now. Good veterinary services are needed for the ponies and for sheep and cattle as well."

Máirtin Ó Catháin Curadh Chonnachta 16/1/2009