Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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694. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 588 of 4 April 2017, his views on whether this reply is a suitable response (details supplied); if he will provide the details requested as to the supports which will be made available from his Department to assist hard pressed farmers who have to keep their animals in sheds much longer than those in drier parts of the country and as such face increased costs and financial difficulties from buying silage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18044/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been monitoring the availability of fodder since the beginning of winter. Exceptionally dry weather last October allowed silage to be made in many areas which helped ease the difficulties caused by the earlier wet weather in the west and northwest. The long term Met Eireann weather forecast is good which will allow land to dry further and facilitate the turnout of stock. Nationally, there is sufficient fodder for sale to ensure no shortages in the short term. Taking account of this, there are no plans at this time to establish a fodder aid scheme.

As an additional support to cash flow on farms, I am pleased to record that to date €1.183billion has been paid out under the 2016/17 Basic Payment Scheme to 123,929 farmers and these payments are ongoing. Furthermore, payments of €201.38 million have also been made to 94,101 applicants under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme. 

The ‘Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme’ was introduced to enable farmers to plan and budget more effectively by providing an attractive cash flow support loan product as an alternative to more expensive forms of credit such as merchant credit and bank overdraft facilities. The purposes for which the loans may be used include working capital requirements, and the interest rate that applies is 2.95%. There has been significant interest in the scheme; however there may be some residual availability and this will be apparent as applications are processed and loans drawn down.  Further details can be sourced on the Department’s website.

 My Department will continue to monitor the situation.