Hardship Grant Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Questions (844)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

844. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to visit the Drumkeeran area in County Leitrim to witness the damage the recent landslide has caused to farmland; if the affected farmers will be given a waiver to their basic payment scheme applications for three to five years in order to reinstate the farmland in view of the fact it was an act of God; if a fund will be put in place to support the farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15901/20]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I visited Drumkeerin on Monday 13th July to see the situation first-hand and to meet local farmers and public representatives.

The terms and conditions for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) include provision for force majeure cases, and these provisions would include instances such as the recent bog slide. Where a farmer is concerned that this event might have an impact on their scheme payments, they should contact the Department to inform them of the circumstances of their own case and to provide any available evidence of the impact on their own landholding such as geo-tagged photographs. Farmers affected can write to the Direct Payments Unit, Government Offices, Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise or ring 076 106 4420. This will ensure that the Department is aware of cases which may be impacted and all such cases will be examined individually.

The BPS is an annual scheme, and thus application is made separately for each year.