Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 June 2016
189. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to reconsider the decision to refuse compensation to a person (details supplied) for lost crops which has resulted in financial hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18623/16]
View answerThe person named has submitted applications to my Department under the Fodder Aid Scheme and the Emergency Flood Damage Relief Measure. These schemes were introduced by my Department as part of the targeted response to the flooding in December 2015 and January 2016.
The Terms and Conditions of the Fodder Aid scheme list the eligible feedstuffs considered for aid under the scheme as silage, hay, straw and concentrates. Therefore, losses to other sources of feed on a holding such as crops in the ground do not qualify for support under this scheme.
The terms and conditions of the Emergency Flood Damage Relief Measure, introduced to support those that had faced the brunt of the flooding difficulties, set out that support is available to farmers under 3 categories:
a) loss of livestock,
b) damage to fixed agricultural structures and fittings, and
c) the necessity to move livestock to alternate housing (excluding the cost of feed).
Given that the applications of the person named related to the loss of a crop, the applications were not eligible for compensation under the terms of either scheme. The person named has been advised of the decisions in each case, and advised of the appeal options available.
