I would like to share my time with my colleague, Deputy Séan Ryan, if that is in order.
Adjournment Debate. - Horticultural Growers' Losses.
I am sure it is in order.
I have here with me this evening some cauliflowers from Rush, County Dublin, to demonstrate to you the utter devastation of vegetables as a result of the heavy rainfall of the last six weeks. You will forgive me, a Cheann Comhairle, if I do not open the bag because they are highly odoriferous.
I want to assist the Deputy, but displays of this kind would not be in order.
I am not going to open it, a Cheann Comharile, because I know you would not like the smell. It is estimated that 1,120 acres of potatoes have been destroyed as well as 468 acres of cauliflowers, partially grown leeks, parsnips and other vegetables. Many farmers have been unable to plant next season's crops and so, on top of the loss of the ready-to-harvest vegetables, they face the loss of thousands of pounds worth of seedlings. One young farmer showed me in his yard £7,000 worth of seedlings which should have been planted four weeks ago. He will now have to destroy those. As well as the £7,000, he loses the value of those seedlings which would have become vegetables.
There will be a great shortage of Irish grown produce in our shops this summer and it will be even greater in the autumn. This means high imports and the risk that some of these farmers that have been hit so badly will be out of business altogether. Conservative estimates of losses amount to £2.5 million in north County Dublin alone and about £8 million countrywide as well as the costs to other businesses like garden centres that have been very seriously affected by the heavy rainfall.
Over 10.5 inches of rain fell in 35 days which is unprecedented and this has left crops saturated in the ground and rotting. I call on the Minister to make compensation available in this emergency so that the future of the horticultural industry, which I know is close to the Minister's heart, is secured, particularly in north County Dublin where it is so important to the infrastructure and which is also probably the finest horticultural area in the country.
The Minister may not be aware of it but the Fine Gael MEPs have tabled an urgency motion in the European Parliament calling for EC aid for flood damage and I hope the Minister will give assurances in the House this evening that he also will take up the case on behalf of the many horticultural farmers both in north County Dublin and in other counties like Wexford, County Meath and areas of County Kildare whose crops have been devasted by the appalling weather.
I also endeavoured to raise this matter on the Adjournment. I would like to thank my constituency colleague, Deputy Owen, for giving me the opportunity tonight, or at least early this morning, to raise this issue.
In the last 35 days there has been an unprecedented rainfall of ten and a half inches in the Fingal area which has caused major problems both for farmers and those in the horticultural industry. We have to acknowledge the role played by the people in the horticultural industry. As I looked at Fingal last weekend, where there should have been 1,200 acres of potatoes, cauliflowers, cabbages etc. there was nothing but acres and acres of water and this was rather distressing for people who are finding it so difficult to exist.
I ask the Minister to consider this case on its merits. Every effort should be made to assist these growers. There are well over 100 growers and all of these, with their extended families, depend on horticultural activities. The Minister should explore the possibility of getting support from the EC and from Exchequer funding and take on board the requests from Deputies here this evening. He should meet with representatives of growers and hear firsthand about their plight. As Deputy Owen mentioned earlier, we are talking of losses of £2.5 million. The growers in north County Dublin cannot afford that. Although the Minister may not be able to give a direct commitment here tonight, I ask him to look seriously at the possibility of supporting the growers in question in every way possible.
I thank Deputies Owen and Ryan for raising this matter which is of great concern. Regarding Deputy Ryan's request for a meeting, I will be meeting representatives of the IFA in relation to this matter on Thursday morning and I have informed a constituency colleague of the Deputies, Deputy Burke, of that meeting. The Deputies are welcome to attend if they so wish. It will be at 8.30 a.m. We are early risers in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
I fully appreciate the difficulties and sympathise with fruit and vegetable growers who have suffered crop damage due to the excessive rainfall in recent weeks. I have instructed my officials to investigate and monitor the serious situation which has arisen and I will also be asking Teagasc to co-operate fully in this regard.
The Deputies will, no doubt, be aware that from a scientific point of view it is not possible to accurately assess at the moment the long term effects of the damage caused and any question of assistance is, in my view, premature at this stage. My Department will be monitoring the overall situation during the coming months, including the weather and its effects, how the crops develop, the market situation and so on. I should point out, however, that I can give no commitment regarding any possible payment of compensation. All I can say at this stage is that there are no funds available to my Department out of which assistance could be provided.