Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy made the point that we were in this position this time last year. However, we did not have a fodder scheme subsequently. The responses that were available by my Department in terms of animal welfare issues were adequate to deal with any issues that arose. The Deputy is making this point in the first week of October. While I appreciate that we have had a difficult year and that ground conditions are difficult, there is no evidence of a fodder crisis at this stage. As I said, my Department remains vigilant in terms of the matter and we will continue to monitor the situation. Notwithstanding the fact that there are individual farmers who have had cattle in, some full-time, some in by night, because of ground conditions, there is no fodder crisis.

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