Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is an urgent need for swift action to be taken by the Minister and the Government to assist farmers in the affected areas. We have called for crisis fodder aid via the meal voucher scheme on numerous occasions. Again, I compliment my colleague, Deputy McConalogue, who has been to the forefront in imploring the Minister since last November to introduce it. Due to the severe weather conditions since July 2017, many farmers were unable to harvest a second cut of silage. The fodder shortages were especially acute in areas in the north west but they have now spread across the country and particularly into Border counties. A Teagasc survey has shown that in the most impacted areas, 85% of farmers have been affected by fodder shortages. It is another example of the Government's deprioritisation of rural Ireland and of farmers who are under so much pressure and threat.

I ask the Minister to do something about this and take action to address the fodder crisis.

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