Taskforce on Flooding Has to Be More Than a Talking Shop – Turley

IFA Flood Project Chairman Tom Turley has welcomed the announcement by the Government of a hardship fund to deal with the losses farmers have incurred as a result of the recent flooding.

On the establishment of a taskforce, Tom Turley said various initiatives announced in the past have turned out to be toothless. “This will have to deliver for farmers and rural communities, with a meaningful impact on the ground to alleviate the pressures on farm families. It’s action that people want to see now, and not more talk about plans.”

Tom Turley said, “EU regulations allow necessary maintenance work to take place in an emergency situation, which is what farmers and householders have endured for the last month”.

Already, some farmers have been granted emergency fodder from a list compiled as a result of the Teagasc and Department of Agriculture assessment of flood damage and losses. Tom Turley said it is important that these farmers are contacted immediately and he encouraged farmers who have suffered losses to make contact with IFA, Teagasc or their local Department of Agriculture office.

Tom Turley also called for all outstanding payments – Basic Payment, ANC, GLAS, AEOS, Beef Data – to be paid out immediately. Some of those waiting for payments are in flooded areas.