Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
831. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grant funding schemes are available to farmers to help meet the costs of river erosion prevention measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4425/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not specifically provide grant aid for river erosion preventative measures.
However, the Department does place a strong emphasis on the protection of our watercourses through activities like the European Innovation Partnership 'Allow' Project in the Duhallow catchment which aims to restore the status of a high-status waterbody in an agricultural catchment.
Similarly, one of the actions in the Green Low Carbon Agri-environment Scheme is the protection of watercourses from bovines. Farmers in the scheme are supported in the provision of watercourse fencing to restrict animals entering the waterbody and damaging watercourse banks. This has a positive impact on water quality and erosion by preventing bovine animals access to our rivers.
