Agriculture Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2024

Thursday, 8 February 2024

Questions (276)

Denis Naughten

Question:

276. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 494 of 23 January 2024; if he would overlay the sentinel 1 survey data with the OPW flood maps of the Shannon Callows to finally resolve disputes with regard to the scale of summer flooding due to grass cover; or alternatively if he would apply winter sentinel 1 survey data at the same water level at Banagher that existed during the reference period for the Shannon Callows flooding scheme which would provide for a better reflection of the scale of flood on farmland due to the fact that it is without visible growing meadow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5951/24]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Following exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during summer 2023, on 7 November 2023, I announced the launch of the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to support farmers who have lost fodder due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. I have allocated funding of approximately €800,000 which will allow for a payment rate of up to €325 per hectare. This is for LPIS parcels in the Shannon Callows Special Area of Conservation (SAC) impacted as determined by my Department's Earth Observation team, utilising the Area Monitoring System, and which were claimed by farmers on their 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application.

My Department contacted the farmers that the Earth Observation team, utilising the Area Monitoring System, identified as having been impacted by the flooding and provided them with a simple application form to sign and return if they wished to apply for the support. 

Farmers are asked to confirm they have lost fodder as a result of the exceptional flooding in order to receive payment. 

Using Copernicus Sentinel satellite data to identify those most impacted represents the most appropriate mechanism to verify the baseline criteria required to establish eligibility for the scheme and to ensure much needed funds are received by farmers in a prompt manner. Imagery captured by the Copernicus Sentinel satellites, utilising a flooding marker, provides clear identification of flooding in the Shannon Callows SAC between 02 July 2023 and the 29 September 2023.

The OPW flood maps are based on historical flooding events and as such are insufficient for the purposes of confirming flooding of LPIS parcels within the Shannon Callows SAC during the timeframe of 02 July 2023 to 29 September 2023.

Similarly, using winter Sentinel 1 survey data does not confirm flooding of parcels within the Shannon Callows SAC during the timeframe of 02 July 2023 to 29 September 2023, but rather confirms that these lands are subject to flood events, with seasonal flooding being a feature of the Shannon Callows.