Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
1000. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made in the application submitted for the fodder support scheme by a farmer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14780/24]
View answerThe 2023 Fodder Support Scheme built on the success of the 2022 Scheme and only successful applicants for the 2022 Fodder Support Scheme were eligible to apply for the 2023 Scheme, which closed at midnight on the 5th of December 2022. An advance payment of 57% issued to all 2023 Fodder support scheme applicants in December 2022 with balancing payment issuing in December 2023.
Since farmers applied for the scheme based on lands declared in 2022, my Department allowed for an amendment facility to allow farmers to change their land details for this scheme in 2023 - farmers may not have had access to the same land in 2023 compared to 2022. The amendment facility closed on the 12th September 2023.
My officials have examined the relevant records and have confirmed that a draft amendment for the Fodder Support Scheme 2023 was created by the applicant on the 08th September 2023 but was not fully submitted. In this case, staff in my Department will check the relevant records for this farmer and it is anticipated that a balancing payment will issue to these herds in the coming weeks. My officials have been in contact with the herdowner via the scheme email address FSS@agriculture.gov.ie and advised him accordingly.
Over recent months, there has been exceptionally poor weather, and to aid farmers with fodder shortages I have announced a Fodder Transport Measure on the 9th April. This measure will further assist farmers through a transport subsidy where they are facing fodder shortages on their farms. Full details of this scheme are available on my Departments website at gov - Fodder Transport Support Measure (www.gov.ie).
