Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2014
501. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the storms of late 2013 and early 2014, the assessment that has been conducted of the storm damage caused to coastal farmlands; the outcome of the assessment; the remedial work and flood defences proposed; the estimated costs of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25250/14]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has not carried out any assessment of the storm damage caused to coastal farmlands. However, I am conscious of the hardship caused by this storm damage particularly to the farming community. As the Deputy is aware my Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme and other area based schemes, is required to carry out annual inspections covering both the eligibility of the land declared to draw down payments and also cross compliance aspects, to ensure compliance with EU regulatory requirements. In carrying out these inspections, which must be carried out to a standard which meets EU audit requirements in order to protect the draw-down of the significant funding involved, and in addition, every effort is made to take account of the realities of farming including weather conditions such as the damage caused by these storms. Each case is examined on its individual merits, and my officials have leeway to apply “force majeure” or exceptional circumstances where events have occurred that are beyond the farmer’s control.
