Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 January 2016
213. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will publish the details of the scheme or schemes he is putting in place to assist farmers affected by recent flooding; the type of schemes envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2991/16]
View answerThe recent severe flooding caused widespread flooding of farmland and has impacted on a significant number of farmers. Farms in western counties and those located in the catchment areas of larger rivers including the Shannon were most significantly affected. The main issues affecting farmers are loss of fodder, damage to sheds/milking parlours and additional challenges in managing livestock during the flooding.
My Department is urgently addressing these problems through a range of actions.
The most serious consequence of the flooding for farmers was the immediate risk posed to the safety and welfare of livestock. The Animal Welfare Helpline operated throughout the period of the floods, including on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Arising from farm visits by Teagasc and Department personnel, as well as requests to the animal welfare Help Line, emergency arrangements were put in place to provide feed under Department Emergency Feed Provision Arrangements to the worst affected farms. More than 380 tons of concentrate feed has now been provided to 141 farmers, avoiding welfare issues arising.
Department staff continue to monitor the situation at farm level. Where the welfare of animals was threatened, it has been possible to relax some rules around the temporary movement of livestock in some situations. In the case of some very badly affected holdings guidance was issued to allow for the removal of flood water from overfull slurry tanks.
In addition to these emergency provisions funding has been provided by the Government for a new Fodder Aid scheme for farmers who have suffered fodder losses as a result of this flooding.
Support under this scheme will apply to the loss of silage, hay, straw and concentrates where there is evidence of damage caused by flooding during the months of December 2015 and January 2016. Assistance under this scheme is subject to the de Minimis provisions of EU state aid rules. In order to ensure swift payments under the scheme, the closing date for applications was Friday 22 January, by which date over 330 applications had been received. On-farm verification will take place in the coming week allowing prompt payment to follow.
A further measure will be launched shortly to cover a very small number of farmers who have experienced extreme hardship, including through the loss of livestock. Any such measure must comply with European Commission State Aid rules.
