Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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That is welcome and good news for the farming community. We are well aware of the costs they have had during the years. A lot of them are struggling at the moment and there is no point is saying otherwise.

The overgrowth of roadside trees and vegetation is dangerous at the moment and we are well aware of what happened during the recent storm. Is there a grant available to farmers to take down those trees and cut the vegetation coming onto the road? Is that something that could be looked at? Could a payment be made to farmers? If a farmer does not fulfil their duties, that payment could then be made to the local authority or contractors who carry out this work. A lot of roads are dangerous at the moment. It is important that vegetation is kept off them and that roadside ditches are cut back.