Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
72. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a financial support scheme for farmers who live adjacent to rivers, streams, lakes and turloughs that are prone to flooding to develop flood protection measures on their landholdings. [38528/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW) are responsible for general flood relief works, however my Department monitors the situation where farmland or farmyards are subject to flooding.
Through Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan my Department is proposing a number of measures that have the potential to improve water retention and in cases will also support floodplain management. These include proposed actions under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) relating to riparian buffer strips/zones, planting of trees in riparian buffers, low input grassland and extensively grazed pasture. In addition, to address water quality issues, a dedicated Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Scheme is also currently being developed with support from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage .
Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan was submitted to the European Commission at the end of 2021. It will hopefully be shortly agreed with the European Commission with measures coming into effect from the start of 2023.
