Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 December 2017
178. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if compensation will be provided to farmers in counties Laois and Offaly who have had their farms damaged in recent flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52449/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Arterial Drainage Acts of 1945 and 1995 provide the Office of Public Works with powers for drainage and improvement of agricultural land and the undertaking of localised flood defence schemes to reduce flood risk in urban areas. The Arterial Drainage Acts and SI 122 of 2010 Regulations also introduced OPW consent requirements for the creation and modification of watercourses, embankments, weirs and bridges. As such, any request for funding to assist in remedial works following flooding should be made to the Office of Public Works.
In part response to poor weather conditions, the European Commission agreed to my request for an increase in the advance payment of the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme as well as an increase in the advance payments under our Rural Development Programme. This means an increase from 50% to 70% in the rate for the BPS to those applicants whose applications were confirmed fully clear and an increase to 85% in the case of RDP schemes.
Issuing of these BPS advance payments commenced after the 15th October and balancing payments are issuing this week. Payments on RDP schemes are also ongoing and last week we paid out close to €100m on our main agri-environment schemes which follows significant payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, the Sheep Welfare Scheme and the Knowledge Transfer scheme. Overall, at this stage, over €1.1 billion has issued to Irish farmers in recent weeks. These payments will make a significant improvement to farmers’ cashflow at this time of year.
