Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is very difficult to start compensating farmers for the loss of a crop in a field. We are exploring the possibility of compensating farmers for the loss of stock in polytunnels, glass houses or farm houses, in the same way as stocks of feed or grain that are lost because flooding has come in the door. It is very difficult to assess the loss of a crop or the cost of reseeding grassland that has been under water for eight weeks. If we start doing it, we will be into a whole new category of assessment and we probably could not afford it.

Ireland is a wet place. We are experiencing more extreme winter storms and we must examine adapting to floods more effectively. We are trying to reach out and support farmers as best we can by way of emergency support for feed and animal welfare, basic compensation for loss of feed. Most of the problems are on livestock farms. If there is damage to buildings or what is stored in them, we will consider supporting it. However, it would be difficult for us to extend it to assessing crop losses and providing compensation for it. There is a series of income supports under the common agriculture policy, CAP, that should be helpful. The schemes have probably gone as far as they are likely to go.

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