Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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379. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider making a grant available to persons on marginal land for a drainage scheme to improve grass production and management which would help prevent a fodder crisis in the future. [32582/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The possibility of including a measure on clearing drains in the farm safety scheme under TAMS II is included in the Programme for Partnership Government. Any such measure would require full compliance with environmental requirements including the need for a full national Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessments for any potentially affected Natura Areas.  European Commission approval would therefore be a significant challenge. A number of key challenges therefore arise and consideration of these issues is ongoing. A scheme for land drainage is not included in the current Rural Development Programme.