Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Today we are discussing weather-related supports for farmers. Many farmers in the north west are paying a very heavy price, both in income lost and, indeed, in the context of their own well-being and mental health, as they grapple to keep going with the poor weather that has dogged the west and the north west since August of last year. It is not just about keeping going; it is about seeing a viable future for their farm with the weather-related challenges alongside all the other challenges they face. While it is not directly linked to bad weather, I want to mention the increasing level of bureaucracy farmers have to manage, which is putting a severe strain on their workload and their ability to run a viable enterprise.

Indeed, a recent survey carried out by the European Commission, covering the entire Union and receiving 27,000 replies from farmers, showed the increasing burden of red tape, or green tape, as I call it. This extra work stems from the administrative burden and complexity of the new CAP rules as well as the rules and regulations of all the other schemes in which farmers are involved. Farmers said that they had to report the same piece of information several times. The Commission itself estimated that many farmers spent six days per year dealing with the burden of bureaucracy. The situation is not straightforward and such issues can be complex, but for as long as I can remember, the European Commission has spoken about simplifying the various administrative procedures. Now that the Commission is re-examining the matter, I ask the Minister to make every effort to ensure that, this time, there is a reduction in the bureaucratic burden.

I will return to the issue of weather-related supports. Coming from Donegal, the Minister will be aware that many farmers in the west and north west are running short of fodder. The Minister has put a transport subsidy in place, but from what I am hearing in Sligo, Leitrim, south Donegal and north Roscommon – perhaps the Minister’s area of Donegal is different – the subsidy will be of little benefit to farmers because there are still some bales available and the distance that farmers have to travel to access them is generally not greater than 70 km. The sun is shining now, but the ground is saturated and there has been poor grass growth. Spreading fertiliser has been difficult, if not impossible, in recent weeks, so there will be a shortage of grass for the next two to three weeks at least and the yield from the first cut of silage will definitely be down. While there are some bales available, cost is a major issue. It is hearsay, but I have heard reports of bales going for up to €50 each in parts of Connemara.

Many farmers are telling me that they are seeking some kind of one-off subsidy on a tonne of meal. The Minister and I know that meal is what animals want when there is a shortage of grass. It is far more beneficial to them than bales of hay. However, a small farmer buying meal right now has to pay approximately €450 per tonne. If there was a one-off subsidy covering the first 5 tonnes of meal or even the first 2 tonnes, it would make an immediate financial difference to farmers, in particular hill and suckler farmers. I ask the Minister to consider this suggestion. The cost of such a scheme would not be substantial, but it would deliver a benefit to many farmers who will not benefit from the scheme that the Minister announced.

My colleague, Deputy McNamara, mentioned farm and forestry contractors. They have been badly hit by the bad weather. Less than one third of their normal spring work has been completed and their turnovers and cash flows have been substantially reduced, which means that many of these family-based rural businesses are in trouble. Forget about their inability to complete work last autumn due to poor weather - they cannot even work in April of this year, and no work in April means no cash in May to pay bills. As the Minister knows, many agri-contractors have to wait for farmers to get their money before they themselves get paid. In these exceptional circumstances, the contractors are asking the Minister to defer the planned introduction of the next round of carbon tax increases on agricultural diesel until 1 October, by which point they hope some cash flow will have returned to their businesses.

In the little bit of extra time available to me, I wish to mention two points, the first of which has to do with PGI status for boxty. I set up the meeting in 2014 to start that process. That was ten years ago, yet the process is still ongoing. Every few months, I submit a written or oral question – I have one in for tomorrow morning – on what is happening with PGI status for boxty. I have got the same response year after year, namely, that the process is ongoing. Will the Minister examine what is happening and see whether he can expedite matters? That it has taken this long is ridiculous. Either we can do it or we cannot, but we should not just be waiting around. I also want the Minister to use his best influence to ensure Exchequer funding for the ash dieback scheme.

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