Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
1938. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application has been made to the EU weather crisis fund in respect of the bad winter or current summer drought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34024/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2018 has seen Ireland suffering from a series of severe weather events. The combination of wet and cold conditions in the early part of the year, followed by exceptionally high temperatures and drought in recent times, has impacted on the availability of grass and has had a demonstrable affect on agriculture.
At the Commission Expert Group meeting on Direct Payments on 26 June 2018, Member States raised their concerns regarding difficulties occurring for farmers due to a number of issues including weather related matters. At this meeting the Commission indicated its willingness to consider justified requests made by Member States to apply higher advance payments percentages.
Irish farmers rely heavily on CAP supports, which represent 75% of farm incomes on average. An increase in the rate of advance payment can assist Irish farmers in managing cash flow at a time of the year when this is critically important. On 6th July, my Department applied to the European Commission for authorisation to increase the advance payment rate for Pillar 1 Direct Payments from 50% to 70% and for Pillar II schemes from 75% to 85% in respect of claim year 2018.
I have also been in further contact with Commissioner Phil Hogan as a follow-up to last week’s Council of Agriculture Ministers' meeting where I joined with counterparts from other Member States in raising issues caused by current drought conditions. At that Council, I called on the European Commission to be responsive to current difficulties and to retain an open mind on any solutions which can alleviate current difficulties. This was followed yesterday with a letter to Commissioner Hogan requesting permission to proceed with certain actions which could be helpful to Irish farmers, with a special emphasis on replenishing fodder stocks in advance of the winter period.
In recent times, my Department has responded to the difficulties experienced by farmers as a result of adverse weather conditions. In response to the weather conditions experienced by farmers during late 2017, my Department put in place two measures to support farmers facing fodder shortages. The Fodder Transport Measure was introduced in January 2018 in order to make a financial contribution towards forage transport costs in certain circumstances. The Fodder Import Measure was introduced in April 2018 to reduce the costs borne by farmers in importing fodder and was implemented via approved suppliers of imported fodder. To date, up to 609 applications have been received under the Fodder Transport Measure, with payments in excess of €162,000 being made.
In addition, I established the Fodder Coordination Group in the Spring of this year in to co-ordinate a response and provide advice to farmers in response to the adverse weather conditions. The Group last met on the 19th July. The Group has been working together to mitigate the effects of the current dry period on grazing and fodder supplies. Practical advice is being shared with farmers on dealing both with the current weather and on filling the fodder gap.
I have asked that the work of the group continue into the Autumn period to provide on-going guidance and assistance to impacted farmers and I will be actively monitoring this situation through engagement both with the group and its members. In the meantime, the Deputy can be assured that my Department and I will continue to carefully monitor the situation closely and to engage with the Commission on the matter as necessary and appropriate.
