asked the Minister for Agriculture the criteria for payment to farmers from his Department to alleviate losses incurred because of the very serious flooding.

Assistance to farmers who faced serious winter fodder problems as a result of flood damage is confined to people farming in parts of specific district electoral divisions in the Shannon valley area. The scheme is limited to those mainly dependent on farming with not more than 60 livestock units who have suffered fodder or, in some cases, crop losses. The maximum subsidy is £500 per farmer.

Can the Minister give a reason why the Dunkellin river basin was not included in that scheme?

I cannot. I can only depend on the technical people in my Department who studied the question at first hand.

Can the Minister say why the people living in the south eastern part of Galway north of Portumna right across to Woodford and into Ballycrosaun were not looked after?

That is a separate question.

James J. Fitzpatrick used to do this travelogue once a week in the films but I cannot travel around the country giving a run down——

Deputy Liam Naughten.

I am delighted at the way in which the scheme is operating but is there a possibility of giving special assistance to farmers in that area which is classified under the Shannon valley and the Suck valley aid scheme by way of an additional grant?

We did not get an answer.

The reply to Deputy Naughten's question is the same as the reply I gave to Deputy Gallagher. I would love to have the resources but because of the overspending on the silage scheme it is proving particularly difficult to make additional areas qualify for the scheme.

Deputy J. Leonard, and then I am moving on to the next question.

For the sake of goodwill would the Minister not agree that it is important to make an effort? West Cavan and other areas mentioned earlier have suffered as severely from flooding as areas around the Shannon.

There is not a lot extra available to people in the Shannon valley or the other affected areas compared with the general run-of-the-mill farmer who has fallen on difficult times. The maximum that can be paid under the Shannon valley scheme is £500. We hope to be able to pay £400 or its equivalent through the fodder scheme depending on the number of applicants. If the number of applicants is less than anticipated we may be able to pay more.