Written answers
Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Agriculture Schemes
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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489. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of hectares under water covered by the Shannon Callows flooding scheme; the percentage number of hectares that has been paid on under the scheme to date; if he will outline the criteria for selecting 15 hectares and determining such a cut off; the specific provisions made for farmers who have more than 15 hectares; the basis for this calculation, how was it verified/approved, and who selected the number of 230 eligible farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3007/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Following exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during summer 2023, on 7 November 2023 I announced the launch of the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to support farmers who have lost fodder due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. I have allocated funding of approximately €800,000 which will allow for a payment rate of up to €325 per hectare for LPIS parcels in the Shannon Callows impacted as determined by my Department's Area Monitoring System and which were claimed by farmers on their 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application.
My Department has contacted the farmers that the Area Monitoring System identified as having been impacted by the flooding, providing them with a simple application form for them to sign and return if they wish to apply for the support. Farmers are asked to confirm they have lost fodder as a result of the exceptional flooding in order to receive payment.
A total of 230 expression of interest letters including the application form were issued on the 17 November 2023 and a further 47 expression of interest letters including the application form issued on the 7 December 2023, with 268 out of 277 now paid.
A total of 2,330 hectares were identified as eligible for payment under the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme (SCFS). As of 19 January 2024, 97% of this area has been paid on under the scheme.
The maximum limit of 15 hectares was set and designed to distribute funding evenly across impacted farmers whilst maintaining a sufficient payment rate per hectare. Increasing the limit to a greater number of hectares would not result in supporting a greater number of farmers but rather would result in reducing the payment rate per hectare and therefore result in less support for those farmers with 15 hectares or less of flood impacted land.
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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490. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of eligible farmers under the Shannon Callows flooding scheme; the number who submitted an application; the number paid to date; the number awaiting payment [3008/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Following exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during summer 2023, on 7 November 2023 I announced the launch of the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to support farmers who have lost fodder due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. I have allocated funding of approximately €800,000 which will allow for a payment rate of up to €325 per hectare for LPIS parcels in the Shannon Callows impacted as determined by my Department's Area Monitoring System and which were claimed by farmers on their 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application.
My Department has contacted the farmers that the Area Monitoring System has identified as having been impacted by the flooding, providing them with a simple application form for them to sign and return if they wish to apply for the support. Farmers are asked to confirm they have lost fodder as a result of the exceptional flooding in order to receive payment.
A total of 230 expression of interest letters including the application form were issued on the 17 November 2023 and a further 47 expression of interest letters including the application form issued on the 7 December 2023, so 277 in total.
As of 19 January 2024, 275 have so far submitted an application. Of those, 268 have been paid to date.
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