Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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352. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce grant aid to assist farmers with necessary land reclamation and on-farm drainage works in which ongoing farming activities are being hindered due to the increased rainfall over recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53723/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department recognises the impact that climate change is causing to the everyday activities of farmers in Ireland. Adaptation to climate change is a priority for my Department and key actions are set out in the Agriculture, Forest and Seafood Sectoral Adaptation Plan published in September 2019. This Adaptation Plan is about preparing our systems to deal with the inevitable changes in climate, including preparations for events such as flooding, fodder shortages or damage resulting from extreme weather storms in our harbours and forests.

The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme II (TAMS II) is a series of investment aid schemes, co-funded by the National Exchequer and the European Union under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 (RDP). TAMS II aims to provide farmers with grant aid to improve or build a specific range of farm buildings or to purchase equipment that will benefit their farm. However, the current programme is fully committed to existing schemes with the allocation totaling €395 million up to 2020.

At all levels, our systems must be prepared and consider alternative options to manage our exposure to the climate change risk.