Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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435. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if County Limerick will be included under the fodder transport scheme. [8314/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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To address an identified shortfall of fodder in certain areas of the West and North-West of the country, I introduced a targeted Fodder Transport Support Measure, operated through the Co-operative structure. The measure provides a contribution towards the cost of transporting fodder from areas of surplus to those areas in need, primarily in the West and North West, based on assessment by Teagasc. This measure applies from January 29th 2018 until April 20th 2018.

While the areas identified by Teagasc as being the most affected are predominantly located in parts of the West and North West, the measure is not county specific within the region. Teagasc is also monitoring the fodder situation in adjoining areas and will carry further assessments if necessary. As with all measures, certain criteria apply. Farmers, in a locality within the region, identified by Teagasc as having a significant fodder shortage, having completed a fodder budgeting exercise with their FAS agricultural advisor, will be eligible to receive a financial contribution towards the costs of transport of fodder, sourced through the Co-operative system. Only the shortfall in fodder will be eligible to receive support under the measure.

It is important to emphasise that this is a very targeted and locally focused measure, centring on areas of fodder scarcity where normal local trading in fodder cannot service. At present County Limerick is not identified as an area that currently is experiencing a significant fodder shortage and reports indicate that there is adequate fodder available currently in the county. My Department will continue to monitor the situation.