Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Farmers throughout the country are under tremendous pressure to feed livestock especially after the long winter and the way the fodder crisis is dragging on.

I wish to focus on two areas I believe the Minister needs to act on. The first relates to getting funds to farmers. The second relates to farmers' mental health and stress. Farmers need to have access to their money. The Minister should pay the outstanding 2017 payments as quickly as possible. Where there are appeals, reviews or any outstanding payments, the money needs to be released. The money is available. It is farmers' money and it is better off in their pockets. They need it now.

The Minister needs to look at the possibility of advancing next year's payments. The sheep welfare scheme is based around animal welfare. What could be more fundamental to animal welfare than feeding them? The Minister needs to find a way of pushing that money towards them.

If a farmer is owed money from Revenue for VAT, then Revenue needs to get that money to them as quickly as possible. It is a fundamental step. Farmers need to get access to funds as quickly as possible in order that they can buy any available feed and, as weather improves, get fertiliser out. They are already stretched on credit. We know beef and sheep farmers are not going to have a regular income. This crisis is not going to end when the weather improves.

While the fodder shortage is visible, another huge darkness is lurking behind so many farmyard gates. Farm families are under tremendous pressure with hungry cattle, empty silage pits, full slurry tanks, bills mounting and the endless stress of trying to get money and trying to get animals fed. There is no need for the Minister to add to that pressure. The Minster can take some of the pressure off by recognising the pressure farmers are under and easing off on the inspections. There is no need to be hounding farmers at this stage. Instead, where the Minister can do so, he should push money towards them.

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