Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. A succession of abnormal weather patterns has resulted in the critical shortage of fodder for farms and created real hardship for rural communities. Before concerns about fodder levels had arisen, the Department was working with Teagasc, the farm animal welfare bodies to assist farmers in recovering from last year's very bad weather only to see this problem arise following a long winter and a poor spring. These challenges have placed a real burden on the farming community but the Minister and the Department have been quick to target the needs of farmers on the ground. A system of support mechanisms was encouraged and implemented quickly at many levels in response to the difficulties being faced by one of the country's most important sectors. We have seen in the last two years that farmers came out of the blocks to bring the country back to normality.

Since the level of fodder became an issue of concern, a targeted and comprehensive response was implemented by the Minister, the Department and the farming organisations, together with the private sector, to support farmers in sourcing and purchasing fodder. The transport subsidy scheme reduced the cost of importing fodder by a third. The scheme, while operated by the dairy co-ops and directly supported by the Government, offered a practical response to ease the burden upon farmers. In reacting swiftly, vital support was provided to help bring the shortages to a conclusion in the shortest time possible. The farming organisations, co-ops and feed merchants have gone to great lengths to increase their hay and silage imports and passed the benefits of the scheme to the customers. In particular, I commend Connacht Gold, which has done a lot of work in this area, and the co-ops in Killasnet and Ballinfull and Lakeland Dairies, which have all helped out. I thank the Minister and the Department for processing as a matter of urgency outstanding farm scheme payments amounting to nearly €3 million, further easing the burden on farmers created by the unprecedented weather. Receipt of these payments will help ease the burden of having to buy extra fodder.

The Minister and the Department have not limited their response to the situation to circumstances within their own control. Much work has been done liaising with the banks and co-ops, encouraging increased credit facilities and flexible loan repayments for farmers in difficulty. Many of the banks and co-ops have responded positively and should be commended for their support to their customers. Any farmers who are still in difficulty should speak to their banks and co-ops to seek assistance on any further difficulties they may have. The emergency animal scheme that was mentioned earlier and the early warning mechanism have been in place for some time, receiving 500 calls in the last few weeks. They have addressed many of the concerns about fodder by providing emergency financial assistance in a minority of cases.

The Minister has been to the fore in addressing and raising animal health and welfare issues since taking up office. The Animal Health and Welfare Bill will shortly pass all Stages. The response to the fodder problem has been entirely animal-centred. Professor Gerry Boyle from Teagasc and the farming organisations spoke to us in recent days and important meetings have been taking place locally to inform farmers. In Leitrim last night, there was an IFA meeting and the association was arranging supplies of fodder for the area in the coming days.

Similar to the economy, real and tangible green shoots are beginning to emerge. The Minister is focusing his efforts on encouraging grass growth so we can move quickly beyond the current difficulties in driving grass production. Farms will be able to provide the cheapest and most natural food source for their animals. Further supportive measures have been implemented by some co-ops. Interested parties across these sectors have shown a willingness to assist farmers in difficult circumstances.

I thank the Minister for being with us again today to debate this very important issue. I hope spring will finally arrive, the sunshine will come and the grass will grow.