Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
2108. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding that is available for remedial and prevention works for ongoing erosion damage on a farm caused by a river running through the land and exacerbated by the increasing number of adverse weather events, the impact of which is encroaching on a private dwelling on the land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42440/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraErosion damage is a matter for the land owner in the first instance. My Department does not specifically provide grant aid for river erosion remedial or preventative measures.
However, the Department does place a strong emphasis on the protection of our watercourses in our agri-environment schemes, such as the protection of watercourses from bovines action in the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS), farmers and several actions in the new Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES).
Farmers in these schemes 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.
