Deputy S. Byrne has six minutes. The Minister has four minutes.
Adjournment Debate. - Galtee Mountains Sheep Losses.
Firstly, I should like to thank the Chair for allowing me to raise this issue, even though the time is very short. Unfortunately, my three colleagues from South Tipperary will not have time to contribute, but Deputy Griffin will probably be able to contribute. I shall be as brief as possible.
All the Deputies from south Tipperary had a meeting in connection with the recent tragedy in the Galtee Mountains when over 1,000 sheep were lost. Most of the farmers in this area have sheep raising as their main source of income, but the ewes and the lambs which were on the way were lost. The headage payments and premium payments have been lost as well and also the sale of wool. Their total livelihood is at stake. I appeal to the Minister to arrange for these people to be compensated, as were the farmers two years ago when a similar tragedy of sheep losses occurred around the country. A special rescue package was set up at that time. We do not mind if the money comes from the Minister's fund or from Brussels as long as help is provided for those people who work so hard. They live in a very rough part of this mountain area and their losses are very hard on them. They have to walk up to three and four miles in this mountain area when they are looking after their sheep.
I would like to pay tribute to the engineering and outdoor staff of South Tipperary County Council for the help they gave to those sheep farmers while they were trying to rescue their sheep. They also helped the veterinary profession in South Tipperary to count the sheep lost. The situation was so grave that those sheep farmers do not yet know what their losses are as snow is still on the hills.
I appeal to the Minister to do everything possible to bring a rescue package into operation and, if possible, to meet a deputation from the sheep farmers concerned. They led a very miserable life up to a few years ago when the price of sheep increased. Now, when they were trying to eke out a living this calamity occurred. I know the Minister was made aware of this during the past week and that he will be as helpful as he can. As time is short I will allow my colleague, Deputy Brendan Griffin, to speak. Deputy Seán Treacy and Deputy McCarthy were anxious to speak on this matter but the time is not available. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter and I appeal to the Minister to do what he can for these people.
I would like to thank Deputy S. Byrne for giving me a few minutes of the very short time allocated to him. I would like to substantiate the very fine case he has made for the sheep farmers of the Galtee Mountains who suffered great losses in the recent snowstorm. We know from the figures available that about 901 sheep were suffocated on the mountainside and approximately 22 farmers have suffered varying losses. One man lost 150 sheep, another 85, and another 50. The exact details have not been verified. They have a genuine case, and I sincerely appeal to the Minister to reintroduce the hardship fund, which we had two years ago, to compensate the farmers who are solely dependent on sheep for their livelihood.
I would like to point out to the Minister that this particular area applied to be admitted into the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme because of the poverty of the area and the low income of the farmers. It is estimated that losses in the region of £50,000 have been incurred. When one considers the loss of 900 sheep, most of whom were in lamb and the consequent loss of their wool the value of each sheep would be £60 when all the losses are added up.
I would like to reassure the people of South Tipperary that the water supply is not contaminated. It is purified, and the county medical officer has indicated that there is no threat to the water supply. I ask the Minister to sympathetically consider the case of those sheep farmers. The figures of losses can be verified. We have the headage payment scheme and we have the number in the sheep dipping scheme. The Minister's officers in South Tipperary can verify each loss to individual farmers. I also ask the Minister to introduce an emergency scheme so that if there is a repetition of this disaster a rescue action plan could be put into operation immediately involving the Army helicopters, which could drop food to the sheep, and taking in all the other agencies.
The most important statement is that the dead sheep have not been counted because the snow has not disappeared. The farmers in the Cuilcagh Mountains of west Cavan have written to me about it and asked me to have this matter taken up. That is a disadvantaged area.
Is the Minister of State sharing his time with Deputy Treacy?
Yes.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Minister of State for conceding some of his very precious time to me on this very important issue. The number of sheep involved, approximately 1,000, and the financial loss sustained by the sheep farmers of the Galtees is certainly one of the greatest tragedies that has struck South Tipperary for a very long time. I urge the Minister to come to the aid of these small sheep farmers in their hour of need and grant them the maximum State assistance. I also urge him to avail of the disaster fund from the European Parliament, which is available for such purposes, and he will have my support and that of my European colleagues to that end.
In view of the fact that my colleague, Deputy S. Byrne, kindly allowed some of his time to Deputy Griffin could I have 15 seconds? Would the Minister of State allow me that?
Yes.
I would like to substantiate everything that has been said by my colleagues Deputy S. Byrne, Deputy Griffin and Deputy S. Treacy. This is the only income of many of the people who live in the Galtee Mountains area. They lead a very difficult life. They lost all their sheep in the dreadful conditions of the recent blizzard. As Deputy Griffin said many of the ewes were in lamb and next year's stock has been lost also. We hope the Minister will invoke the hardship scheme, which was last invoked in 1982.
I was in Cahir last Friday night and I met the people involved in this matter and discussed the problem with them. I explained the limitations of the Department in regard to financial support and EEC support, which is 1 or 2 per cent. We have no idea at this stage of the full extent of the problem. The Sheep Breeders Association have also written to us and they suggested they will send in details. The Department and ACOT are doing everything they can. Like Deputy S. Byrne, I would like to compliment the county council for their sterling work on behalf of the sheep farmers. When we receive details we will consider what action is appropriate. There is no national fund we can draw from.
Let the Government create one.
We will examine the position when we get the details. With regard to Deputy Byrne's request the proper thing to do is to get the details and meet a deputation from the area headed by the Deputies from the area. That is the fairest way out of it.
Will the Minister meet my fellows as well?
The Dáil adjourned at 9 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 23 February 1984.