asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will introduce a fertiliser subsidy to assist farmers in the west of Ireland who have suffered heavy losses because of inclement weather and shortage of winter feed.
Written Answers. - Fertiliser Subsidy.
137.
A number of measures have already operated to assist farmers who suffered losses due to inclement weather and shortage of winter feed. The winter fodder scheme last autumn consisted of fertiliser and silage subsidies. The Shannon valley scheme provided relief measures for farmers affected by flooding in the catchment area of the Shannon. The feed voucher scheme gave further assistance, and recently it was decided to make advance payment of beef cow grants as an additional measure to help farmers with fodder supply problems. These various measures, together with the transport of hay from the east to western areas by the Army, gave a wide range of assistance to farmers in the west of Ireland to deal with the feed situation.