Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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41. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will include in the financial assistance scheme farmers who lost grain crops, potato crops or second cut silage crops or had farm road networks destroyed in the County Donegal flooding on 22 August 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41679/17]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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This question is to ask the Minister if he will include in the compensation scheme announced for those farmers affected by the very severe and unprecedented flooding in the Inishowen area on 22 August farmers who have lost grain crops, potato crops or second cut silage crops or had farm road networks destroyed. With regard to the response, and the Minister mentioned the script earlier to Deputy McGrath, we are aware of what is in the scheme and we appreciate those who are covered. This question specifically focuses on those who are excluded and asks why they are excluded and whether the Minister will include them because it is unacceptable that they are not included.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may know, I visited the Inishowen Peninsula with my colleague, the Minster of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, following the exceptional rainfall of 22 August to see at first-hand some of the very significant problems that a number of farmers faced as a result. I committed during my visit to supporting these farmers, and my Department, in conjunction with other State agencies, moved swiftly to offer practical solutions to those affected.

In the aftermath of the flood I prioritised the availability of support by means of the animal welfare helpline, which gives guidance on protecting animal welfare and safety, in addition to responding to urgent requirements for emergency feed provision. Staff from my Department as well as Teagasc were in the area. Teagasc provided advice to affected farmers in dealing with the immediate challenges that arose.

From my experience of visiting Inishowen, together with the findings of my officials and Teagasc, it was clear that the principal and most widespread impacts of the floods on farms in the Inishowen Peninsula centred on damage to land, fencing, fodder and livestock. To address these pressing issues in the most effective manner I introduced a targeted measure of assistance.

Support under this measure will apply to losses of livestock, conserved fodder of hay or silage and as a contribution towards the clean-up cost of agricultural lands, including repair to fences damaged by debris washed up by the floods.

The measure will be subject to the provisions of EU de minimisstate aid rules in the agriculture sector and only losses not covered by insurance will be eligible for consideration.

While it is not possible to address all of the problems that unprecedented rainfall caused on farms on the Inishowen Peninsula, this measure is a most comprehensive, timely and appropriate response to the main difficulties farmers had to deal with. It closed for the receipt of applications last Friday, 29 September. Applications will be processed as quickly as possible.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister had a go at Deputy Mattie McGrath earlier for using a script. Specifically, my question is whether the Minister will include those who are excluded. They include farmers who have lost potato crops, cereal crops and second-cut silage and those whose farm road networks have been extensively damaged. There is no rational explanation as to why the Minister is including some and excluding others. The flooding, severe as it was, did not discriminate in who it affected or the types of farmer on whom it had an impact, yet the Minister in his scheme is excluding certain farmers. For example, one farmer lost 40 acres of barley, which is entirely unusable and was wiped out. He is excluded from the scheme. Others lost potato crops, while others lost second-cut silage. Why is the Minister excluding them? Can he give us an explanation? There has been no rational explanation for the exclusion of farmers. No one should be left behind. The Minister is leaving behind farmers in dire need by not including them in the scheme.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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It is fair to say no compensation scheme ever compensates in the order of 100% of all those affected for damage inflicted on them. I visited the area and saw at first hand the damage caused. I walked the land and saw carcases of livestock, particularly sheep, that had been lost in the flood. I saw bales of fodder that had been transported long distances by the flood and fencing that had been damaged. We made what the Government believes, on the basis of the analysis it had made, to be the most appropriate response. When we consider the debate we were having in the House this time last year on the effects of adverse weather on grain producers, we must determine the most appropriate response. In the context of the next CAP, for example, it may be appropriate to explore instruments used in other countries, including an insurance model for farmers dealing with crop losses, etc., that arise in particular circumstances. There is no proposal, however, and the scheme, as approved by the Government, is now closed. There is no proposal to extend it to anybody else.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There is simply no defence and the Minister has not given one. He has given no explanation as to why he is excluding farmers. He has not at any stage attempted to give a defence. The best argument he could mount was that we could never cover 100% of all losses or 100% of farmers. The reality is that, in a number of cases on the Inishowen Peninsula, the Government is covering 0% of farmers' losses; they are entirely excluded. They have experienced a massive loss as a result of the flood, the same as anyone else, but that is not being recognised by the Minister. With no justification, they are being entirely ignored by him and left to fend for themselves. The Minister was in the area. I ask him very specifically for his reasons, but he has no answer. He is leaving farmers behind. While 90% of them are included, why is the Minister ignoring the 10% who are being left to fend for themselves, some of whom who have experienced the most severe losses? It is entirely indefensible, but it is not too late to change the scheme. I urge the Minister, on the back of the motion last week directing that what I propose should happen, to reopen the scheme and include the affected farmers in it.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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It is not possible to say definitively that, because of the level of rainfall on 22 October, second-cut, first-cut or third-cut silage was lost. Neither is it possible to say definitively that floods caused 100% of the losses, as the Deputy tried to convey. We are not compensating anybody in the order of 100%, but we are compensating for the loss of livestock, fodder and fencing, as well as damage caused to lands. These were substantially the issues that were reported and that I saw myself.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Why is the Minister ignoring and leaving behind some farmers?

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Because one cannot state definitively-----

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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One can.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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-----that because of heavy rainfall on the day in question-----

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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They were surveyed. The Minister is just ignoring them.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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-----somebody lost the second cut of silage entirely. That is not simply the case.