Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know this is something Deputy Canney raises with me and my Government colleagues regularly. I see the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, here this morning. She has been raising this with me persistently over the course of the past few months, as have my Government colleagues in Roscommon, Offaly and Westmeath. I have responded to that and taken on board the challenges that have been facing farmers because not only did we have the significant flooding earlier in the summer at a time when it was important in terms of making fodder, but it has been quite chronic since that as well and very unusual and acute in terms of the experience for those farmers. I have moved to put in place a scheme that particularly addresses the issue of fodder and facing the winter coming. It is a strong and balanced scheme and one which I think will provide the support that is needed to farmers. The wider point the Deputy makes about continuing weather events and the need to ensure we are more resilient in respect of the climate and how we farm and how we manage our land into the future is an important one, and that is something I will consider further, particularly as regards the Shannon Callows. I will liaise with the Deputy, Government colleagues and, particularly, farmers in the area on the challenges we will face in the time ahead.

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