Fodder crisis support
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae called for emergency EU help and supports for farmers in severe fodder trouble, especially in the west. The Taoiseach said the House had debated the issue the previous week and pointed to existing ministerial measures, including a targeted transport scheme.
Farmers around the country, especially in the west, are still in serious trouble. They are very disappointed that the Government and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine have not listened to calls for help. Is there not a special emergency fund that can be accessed from the EU? Many farmers on good land are only now leaving out some of their animals, as grass has now started to grow, but in County Kerry and all of the west, farmers cannot get their animals out. Will the Taoiseach do something for them or give them a subsidy? Their backs are to the wall and they have never been in a worse position. The Taoiseach is not listening to them and that is very wrong. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is from very close to where I am from, but he is not aware of what the people in Kerry are going through. When the sun was shining here in Dublin last week, it was pouring with rain in the south of Ireland. The Minister must do something for farmers.
Comment on this
We did nothing. Nothing is being done.
Comment on this
We had an extensive debate on this in the Dáil last week and the Minister, Deputy Creed, has introduced a number of measures to assist with the fodder shortage, including the implementation of a targeted fodder transport measure which was introduced back in January and has a budget of over €500,000.