Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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531. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide compensation to those persons that incurred large fodder losses, including silage badly damaged or destroyed by severe weather in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5576/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Nationally, 2016 was a good year for Fodder production. Whilst there were specific instances of animals having to be housed in late summer 2016, grass growth rates were above average over the subsequent Autumn period. Ground conditions improved in October and November and allowed farmers in some instances to make silage and in the majority of cases to extend the grazing season and delay housing stock. This has reduced the amount of winter fodder required to date.

Based on the available information it would appear that there is sufficient fodder available nationally at present to cover a normal winter feeding period.