Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 October 2023
181. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in light of the very serious losses as a result of the summer flooding in July 2023 on the Shannon callows resulting in the substantial loss of both summer and winter fodder, if he will outline his plans to provide alternative fodder and assistance to farmers in the callows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43087/23]
View answerMy Department is aware of the impact caused by flood event of last July in the Shannon Callows area and the subsequent difficulties in harvesting fodder in the callow regions.
In this regard, I would like to highlight that my Department paid out €56 million in funding to farmers under the 2022 Fodder Scheme in response to the Ukraine crisis. A further €30 million has been paid to farmers under the 2023 Fodder Scheme which supported the production of fodder on Irish farms over those years.
In addition, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme - ACRES - is Ireland's new €1.5 billion flagship agri-environment climate scheme under Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan opened for application earlier this year.
ACRES is a farmer-friendly scheme to help address biodiversity decline while delivering an income support for farm families in Ireland, with 46,000 applicants already approved in Tranche 1 of the scheme, of which counties adjacent to the River Shannon including Clare, Galway, Limerick, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary and Westmeath account for 15,700 farmer applicants. A second tranche is due to open in mid-October.
My Department is represented and participates fully in the Shannon Flood Management Working group lead by OPW.
