Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand we are dealing with both issues. I thank the delegates for attending and the clarification provided. However, what I am experiencing on the ground is slightly different from what has been presented, to which I will come shortly.

There are two major issues, the first of which relates to flooding. Huge areas of land are flooded and, in many cases, this flooding could continue for a considerable time. Will it be accepted that it is a case of force majeure in these areas that continue to be flooded for a period of months in regard to the seven month rule under the disadvantaged area scheme? As each month passes, the position becomes more and more difficult and some of these areas could be flooded for a considerable time.

I know slurry spreading is primarily an issue for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, but no doubt it tic-tacs with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine which always cites Teagasc as the source for what we call "calendar farming". I asked a parliamentary question about slurry spreading dates and in the response I was informed slurry could be spread at that moment. However, in many places farmers would be spreading it in water causing serious pollution. Up until mid-December, we had had a particularly dry season, but farmers were not allowed to empty their tanks and spread slurry. Many farmers have slurry tanks filled to capacity. Now that there is much better forecasting, is consideration being given to moving away from rote calendar farming which in our climate does not have major relevance in terms of when land will be dry or wet? Are we going to move to a system under which slurry can be spread when conditions are suitable, when land is at its driest, particularly in view of the fact that most farmers only have limited storage capacity and that if there is a long wet spell, their tanks will be filled to overflowing? While they might be legally entitled to spread slurry at such a time, it would be at great risk of causing pollution.

I note what was said about inspections and, presumably, what was said was related to REPS and AEOS inspections and the 2013 single farm payment. However, I understand the relevant period has passed and that once a farmer had the land in good agricultural condition for the summer, the inspection does not matter because if the land has disappeared under water in the meantime, it could make no difference.

It is stated in the presentation that there have been individual reports of storm damage to coastal lands and loss of fodder on a small number of farms. Perhaps my constituency is different, but the majority of farmers in my constituency have land in coastal areas. The bigger farmers are in the core of Connemara, but the majority are along the coast because that is where the green strips of land are. The majority of the population in Connemara are in these areas. From the time one leaves Bearna through Spiddal, Inverin, An Cheathrú Rua, Cill Chiaráin, Carna, Roundstone, Ballyconneeley, Errislannan, Clifden and Renvyle, as well as the island, areas that face west or south west suffered damage. There is a continuous strip of damage all along the coast and thousands of farmers are affected. Therefore, it is wrong to say only some individual farmers are affected. I have files and could show the officials the information I have available.

There has been huge damage on the islands, some of which has been seen on television, but what has been seen on television is the damage done to public property, not to farmers' lands. Along the coast, in places never affected previously, walls in existence for 100 or 200 years or more - stone walls in many cases, not post and wire fences - have been knocked down. Worse still, the sea came in and flotsam and jetsam of every kind were thrown on the land, including many stones from dúirling or pebble beaches. The land has been destroyed and stripped back in some places as one would roll back a carpet. The rebuilding of these walls will require a major effort which will certainly not be made by 15 May. That is the real issue in regard to what will happen next. This means that farms will not be in compliance with the terms of either the DAS or the single farm payment scheme which requires a farm to be fenced.

There is another issue. As land has been lost to the sea or destroyed by it and it is impossible to provide forage by the end of the year, will maps have to be adjusted and, as a consequence, will people wind up with more entitlements than land? Is it possible to stack these entitlements for them? In other words, will the Department rejig their entitlements based on the reduced amount of land which was beyond anybody's control? Alternatively, is it suggesting they will have to get more land, even though there is no more available, or that they will have to sell their entitlements? This would be an expensive exercise because everyone must have his or her land measured.

I have made a suggestion to the Minister for Social Protection and I am making the same suggestion today because no doubt the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine tic-tacs with that Department. It will be beyond the ability of many of these farmers to rebuild these walls on their own because they were built in the old days when there was plenty of help available. I suggest that in view of the large number of farmers in receipt of farm assist payments, the rural social scheme be expanded for a 12-month period to enable people participating in that scheme to be employed to replace all of the coastal walls lost, not with post and rail fencing which would be a simple and cost effective way for a farmer to replace them but with the stone walls that are a characteristic feature on the west coast. However, to do this the creation of new foundations would be required and it would not be as simple a job as it sounds. These walls were built on green land which is no longer there. In this situation there would be a double win. We would provide employment for farmers who need it and preserve the heritage value of the walls. The walls in each area have a unique style, which it is important to preserve.

We need to get clarity on the application for the single farm payment and the disadvantaged areas payment.