asked the Minister for Lands why Lusmagh, Banagher, County Offaly, is outside the scope of the special Shannon flooding relief scheme being administered by the Land Commission; if he will take steps to have the area included; and whether he is aware that a unanimous request to be included in the scheme was made to the Government by a meeting of all the Shannon Valley farmers held recently at Shannon Harbour.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Flooding Relief Scheme.
66.
The position is that the Land Commission scheme covers the Shannon Valley, including the parish of Lusmagh. The scheme is confined to farmers whose buildings have been seriously flooded or whose farms lack secure stands for stock against the risk of abnormal floods.
Is the Minister aware that a number of farmers who made application to the Land Commission for assistance under the relief scheme were written to by the Department and informed that the area was outside the scope of the scheme? Further, is he aware that these communications were issued by the Minister's Department within the past fortnight? I am prepared to give the names and addresses of the people to whom they were sent.
As I have indicated in my reply, this scheme has been confined to farmers whose buildings have been seriously flooded, or whose farms lack secure stands for stock. It is quite possible that these people to whom the Deputy refers do not come within that ambit.