Cooley Flood Report Being Considered By Minister – Ó Murchú

A report by Teagasc about the impact of last year’s flooding in Cooley on farmers has been submitted to the Department of Agriculture and is being considered by the minister, Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú has been told.

During questions to Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue in Leinster House last week, the Sinn Féin TD said it had been acknowledged there is no ‘off-the-shelf’ support scheme for farmers and welcomed the fact that Teagasc had worked on this report and sent it to the department.

The Dundalk TD said: ‘I am very glad this piece of work was done. I would like to think we would come up with something that can compensate farmers and even deal with some of these circumstances into the future as they are sure to happen’.

The minister said he had wanted to get a full assessment of the impact of the ‘exceptionally heavy rainfall’ in Cooley in October and November last year.

He said the rain had washed away fences and caused landslides from the Cooley Mountains which deposited large rocks, gravel and debris on agricultural lands in addition to loss and damage to stored fodder and fertiliser supplies.

Minister McConalogue said: ‘In these cases, land users have not been able to utilise agricultural lands without carrying out remedial works and some have reported fodder shortages.

‘Access to affected lands has been restricted for farmers too and activities such as conserving fodder cannot be carried out in the normal way’.

He said the Department of Agriculture is currently analysing the Teagasc surveys and he will update the Oireachtas when there is a conclusion.

Deputy Ó Murchú said: ‘Along with many Oireachtas Members and local councillors including Councillor Antóin Watters, I attended a number of meetings with farmers and one in particular.

‘A huge amount of their worry relates to the remedial work that is needed, even if a scheme comes in. I spoke to the minister about the fact that they had no choice but to carry out some remedial works.

‘They need to make sure they will be able to get compensation if these works, which could not wait, fall under the ambit of any future compensation scheme’.

Minister McConalogue said: ‘We will be stepping it out in assessing the full report and identifying the next steps in that regard.

‘The report is being finalised and assessed and I hope to have further detail shortly’.

ENDS