Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Jan 1999

Vol. 499 No. 1

Written Answers. - Fodder Relief Scheme.

John Perry

Ceist:

324 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will include additional district electoral divisions in County Sligo in the fodder relief scheme in view of the further financial burden on many farmers as a result of the recent storms and in further view of the fact they were not insured; if his attention has been drawn to the devastation caused; if he will reconsider his decision and include the excluded area and herd numbers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1312/99]

John Perry

Ceist:

418 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will include additional district electoral divisions in the fodder relief scheme in view of the further financial burden on many farmers in the worst affected areas who encountered trails of destruction caused in the recent storms and were not insured; if his attention has been drawn to the devastation that has been caused since Christmas in this regard; if he will reconsider his decision and include the excluded area and include the herd numbers for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1796/99]

John Perry

Ceist:

439 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will include additional district electoral divisions in the fodder relief scheme in view of the further financial burden on many farmers in the worse affected areas who encountered trails of destruction caused in the recent storms and were not insured; if his attention has been drawn to the devastation that has been caused since Christmas; if he will reconsider his decision and include the excluded area and herd number (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2018/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 324, 418 and 439 together.

The funds available for the 1998 fodder scheme have been committed. However, arising from discussions at the Government meeting earlier this week my Department and the Department of Finance have already entered into discussions to devise a suitably targeted scheme to assist farmers who are experiencing severe difficulty due to scarcity of fodder. The matter is being pursued with urgency.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

325 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive compensation under the fodder losses scheme. [1357/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

In order to qualify under the 1998 winter fodder scheme a producer had to have a herd number in one of the designated DEDs and (a) have lodged an application under the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme and have a suckler cow quota, or (b) have mountain grazing on the 1997 area aid application and have an application submitted under the 1998 sheep headage scheme, or (c) have a permanent milk quota of 35,000 gallons or less on 1 April 1998.

Since the person named although having a herd number in a designated DED did not lodge any applications and did not have a milk quota, he did not qualify for aid under the winter fodder package for 1998.