Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

186. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider reintroducing the weather related crop loss support measure scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46763/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, extreme weather conditions in September 2016 adversely impacted the harvesting of tillage crops. I launched the Weather Related Crop Damage Measure to provide financial assistance to farmers in approved cases as a contribution towards the direct losses arising from damage to spring barley, spring wheat, spring oats and spring oilseed rape. 

Support was only payable in cases where the loss in crop yield to the applicant exceeded 30% as determined by off-farm sales and showing that the loss had been caused solely by the wet weather in September 2016.

Weather conditions in 2019 were generally such that the harvest of those crops covered by the scheme was completed satisfactorily. I have therefore no plans to re-introduce the Weather Related Crop Damage Measure this year.