Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1162. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce grant aid for land drainage for farmers due to severe wet weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55117/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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At this juncture, the budget for the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation scheme (TAMS) is already fully committed to current eligible items included in the scheme under our Rural Development programme. Support for land drainage is not therefore included in programme.

It must also be recognised that 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. Such requirements in any potential measure should not be considered insignificant as would the challenge of securing European Commission approval.