Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is aware that issues - I refer to probate or other matters - are normally sorted out by the planner, or by the farmer having access to talk to somebody in the Department who can explain why this parcel received a certain designation, or what is happening in relation to it.

When one cannot talk to anybody, though, it cannot be sorted out, and therein lies the problem. Untold damage is being done in the relationship between the Government and the Department and farmers and in bringing farmers on board in terms of climate change, biodiversity and everything we need to do. That is why this is so urgent, never mind the fact that we are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.

All of these farmers in Mayo who are in ACRES will also have had sheds damaged, fodder damage and lines down. I have an email from somebody trying to get hold of Eir to get CCTV calving cameras systems sorted and so on. There is major hardship for farmers at this time of year between the cost of living, not having enough payments and not knowing when they are going to get paid. This has to be sorted out. Is the Minister putting in place a grant to replace sheds for people who have had severe damage? It would be important for restoring confidence and faith, and farmers would know what to expect, if the grant was at least put in place fairly quickly.

I am aware of the fishing sector and the damage done to the fishing industry. I cannot converse with the Minister here today without raising that with him also.

I ask the Minister to please get ACRES sorted and tell me when all of these farmers will be paid their full entitlement, which is what they were promised and they signed up to. Otherwise, there will be other schemes that farmers will just completely turn their backs on.

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