Michael Ring
Question:70 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans, if any, he has to sanction funding to help the farmers of north Mayo who suffered financial losses in 1997 as a result of flash flooding. [13612/98]
Written Answers. - Crop Losses.
I have provided an amount of £1.2 million for the payment of assistance for crop losses under the scheme of assistance for weather related crop losses 1997.
The scheme was targeted at a small number of cereal and other crop growers whose main source of income was from arable crops, potatoes, horticultural crops and grass seed, and whose crop losses arising from the severe weather conditions in 1997 seriously threatened the viability of their farms. Because of the limited funds available only those farmers who had no other significant source of income were eligible for assistance. The criteria of the scheme were focused to achieving that objective.
I have, however, requested a review of those cases under category F, particularly where there is general hardship involved, and my Department is currently reassessing applications for fodder crop losses in County Mayo and the other areas involved.