Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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528. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a farmer could continue to claim BPS and relevant rural development payments under force majeure if a mudslide occurs and leaves land unfit for agricultural purposes for a period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17136/20]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The terms and conditions for schemes such as the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and rural development schemes such as the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme include provision for force majeure cases, and these provisions would include instances such as the recent bog slide.

Where a farmer is concerned that such an event might have an impact on their scheme payments, they should contact my Department to inform them of the circumstances of their own particular case and to provide evidence of the impact on their own landholding.

Farmers can write to the Direct Payments Unit, Government Offices, Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise or ring 076 106 4420. This will ensure that the Department is aware of cases which may be impacted and all such cases will be examined individually.