Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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250. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding provisions he is putting in place to assist farmers who have lost fodder or housing for stock due to the recent flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45994/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am acutely aware of the difficulties farmers in flooded areas are experiencing in recent weeks.

My Department has put special arrangements in place to deal with animal welfare issues that might arise as a result of flooding and to deal with the flooding of slurry tanks that has occurred in a limited number of circumstances.

Where there is a potential animal welfare issue on farms, farmers are urged to contact the Department Animal Welfare Helpline. This helpline is aimed at providing assistance to farmers, and is dealing with farmers on a one-to-one basis where there is a risk of animal welfare. Farmers who are experiencing particular difficulty arising from the flooding should contact the helpline at Call Save 0761 064408 or Phone 01 6072379.

Alongside my Department’s Animal Welfare Helpline, I have asked Teagasc to provide dedicated on-farm practical advice and assistance to farmers in flooded areas and ensure farming operations are supported. Contact should be made using the helpline number 0761 113555.

I have also prioritised payments to farmers at this time. At this point, the vast majority of farmers have been paid over €1.2 billion in EU payments under the Basic Payment Scheme and the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (formerly Disadvantaged Areas Scheme) this year. Given that a completely new payment regime has been introduced, this is a significant achievement and I am committed to issuing remaining payments as individual issues are resolved around applications. Payments under other schemes such as REPS/AEOS have been made along with GLAS and Beef Data and Genomics Scheme payments which are being prioritised.