Vol. 496 No. 5
62 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the recent Teagasc fodder survey in County Kerry which shows that up to 50 per cent of farmers will be short of fodder for the winter months and over 50 per cent in the most affected areas, particularly Castleisland and east Listowel; the steps, if any, he will take to help the farmers affected, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19982/98]
The fodder scheme was drawn up on the basis of a Teagasc survey of the fodder situation in the worst affected areas, including those in County Kerry. As already announced, assistance will be provided for all sheep farmers with mountain grazing, suckler cow producers and small dairy farmers, with milk quotas of less than 35,000 gallons, in these areas. A sum of £10 million is being made available under the scheme to help the farmers affected.
63 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the Aila district electoral division, County Roscommon, was not included for funding under the fodder crisis scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23258/98]
64 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the guidelines used to assess the eligibility of district electoral divisions for support under the fodder crisis scheme; the reason some areas in County Roscommon with severe crisis problems are not included in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23259/98]
115 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason district electoral areas in County Mayo and nationwide were left out of the £10 million fodder scheme recently announced in view of the fact that fodder losses were incurred in all areas; if he will amend the scheme to give each farmer who has suffered losses a fair and equitable chance of applying for compensation; and if he will base payment on the losses incurred for each individual rather than excluding entire district electoral areas. [23360/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 64 and 115 together.
The fodder scheme which I announced recently will provide financial assistance to help alleviate the losses incurred due to the fodder shortage. A sum of £10 million is available overall. Sheep farmers with mountain grazings and suckler cow producers and small dairy farmers, with milk quotas of less than 35,000 gallons, in the worst affected areas of counties Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo will receive assistance. The areas concerned have been identified as the worst affected in a Teagasc survey completed in September and payments under this scheme are being targeted at those areas.
