asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that considerable losses have been sustained by sheep farmers in County Wicklow during the recent snowstorm: whether any inquiries as to the extent of their losses have been made by his Department, and, if so, what is the extent of these losses; further, whether he is prepared by way of grants or otherwise to give these people relief.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Effects of Snowstorm (Wicklow).
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether any reports or representations have been made to him regarding the serious losses suffered by sheep farmers in County Wicklow during the recent storm; whether he is aware that some farmers have lost almost their entire stock; and whether he has considered any methods of relieving the position of people who have lost their means of living from that cause.
Dr. Ryan
I propose to take these two questions together. I have received no representations regarding the losses in sheep said to have been sustained by farmers in County Wicklow during the recent storm. It has not been thought necessary to set on foot any special inquiries into the matter in respect of that county, and I have no information as to the extent of the losses sustained. There are no funds at my disposal for the purpose of making grants to farmers who have suffered losses of the nature referred to.
I made a certain amount of inquiry into this matter myself. I interviewed 24 farmers and the number of sheep they had was 1,690, of which they lost 646. That is 38 per cent. Allowing for 50 per cent. exaggeration, that leaves a loss of 19 per cent. There is no question that the losses in County Wicklow have been very severe, indeed. A great number of these unfortunate people are entirely dependent on their sheep, as the land is not suitable for the rearing of cattle or for any other form of agricultural production. I should have thought that the Minister would have made very careful inquiry as to what losses had been caused. How these unfortunate people are going to live, I do not know. It is a national disaster, and I should have thought the Minister would have tried to take some steps to see what could be done to enable these people to re-stock their lands. It is a terrible situation.
Is the Deputy asking a supplementary question?
I have raised my protest and I leave it at that.