Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
617. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the recently announced Shannon Callows fodder scheme to ensure the adequacy of satellite monitoring in capturing the actual number of farms impacted; how the number of impacted farms is being calculated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54911/23]
View answerFollowing exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during summer 2023 on 7 November 2023, I announced the launch of the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to support farmers who have lost fodder due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. I have allocated funding of approximately €800,000 which will allow for a payment rate of up to €325 per hectare for LPIS parcels in the Shannon Callows Special Area of Conservation (SAC) impacted as determined by my Department's Area Monitoring System and which were claimed by farmers on their 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application.
My Department has contacted the farmers that the Area Monitoring System has identified as having been impacted by the flooding, providing them with a simple application form for them to sign and return if they wish to apply for the support. Farmers are asked to confirm they have lost fodder as a result of the exceptional flooding in order to receive payment.
Using satellite monitoring to identify those most impacted represents, the most appropriate mechanism to verify the baseline criteria required to establish eligibility for the scheme and to ensure much needed funds are received by farmers in a prompt manner. Imagery captured by the Copernicus satellite is publicly available and provides a transparent record of flooding in the Shannon Callows SAC between 02 July 2023 and the 29 September 2023.
A total of 230 expression of interest letters including the application form were issued on the 17 November 2023 and many of those are already paid. A further 47 expression of interest letters including the application form issued on the 7 December 2023 and I advise those farmers to complete and return those as soon as possible if they wish to partake in the scheme and receive financial support.
