The announcement is in addition to a wider humanitarian aid scheme, to which the Government has allocated 10 million euro.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister of State Killeen said: “The fodder scheme reflects an assessment undertaken by the Department’s Inspectorate, which indicates substantial flooding of farmland in the West, Midlands and South West. One of the problems likely to arise in this context would be a fodder shortage. While it is difficult, at this stage, to quantify those losses, it is clear the damaged fodder may cause a feed shortage problem on some livestock farms which, in turn, could give rise to financial hardship and potential animal welfare issues on these farms.”
The Clare T.D. added: “As a matter of urgency, Department officials are now preparing the outlines of a targeted fodder aid scheme to provide some financial support towards the purchase of alternative feed material to replace flood-damaged fodder. The scheme will require farmers to demonstrate that the fodder was damaged and the extent of that damage and that it is necessary to purchase feed supplies to prevent animal welfare problems.”
-ENDS-
Notes to Editor:
- High-resolution images of Tony Killeen, Fianna Fail TD for Clare, and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Forestry, Fisheries and the Marine, may be downloaded from www.dunphyprimages.com
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR at media@dunphypr.com or 086-8534900
