Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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667. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the relocation grant scheme for farmers affected by flooding along the river Shannon will be finalised; and the timeframe for its implementation. [19901/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Last month, the Government agreed the administrative arrangements for a Homeowners Voluntary Relocation Scheme for those primary residential properties that flooded during Winter 2015/2016. This is a national scheme of humanitarian assistance, targeting aid at those worst affected properties, for which there are no alternative feasible measures. This scheme will include a farmer’s primary residence where it meets the eligibility criteria.

Further details regarding the Homeowners Voluntary Relocation Scheme, including the eligibility criteria are available on the OPW website.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has indicated that the administrative arrangements for the Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme will help it identify those farmyard buildings worst affected by the flooding during Winter 2015/2016. That department will work with these individual farms to determine if there are any alternative remedial works to protect those farmyard buildings at risk. This approach will inform the feasibility of any future once-off targeted scheme for Voluntary Farm Building Relocation.