Louth Senator Erin McGreehan has confirmed that she has secured a commitment from her party colleague, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, to provide a package of financial aid for farmers affected by severe weather events in the Cooley Peninsula.
Senator McGreehan said that Minister McConalogue has acknowledged that farmers in the area are facing challenges due to the impact of extreme weather and his Department is now engaging with affected farmers on financial aid.
Senator McGreehan said: “Since last winter, the Cooley Peninsula experienced a range of adverse weather effects, particularly intense storms that resulted in high winds and unprecedented rainfall, leading to devastating damage.
“The aftermath of these storms left agricultural lands in the region covered in rocks, gravel, and debris. The storms also caused significant damage to fences, stored fodder, and fertiliser supplies.
“In response to local farmers’ urgent need for assistance, my party colleague Minister McConalogue commissioned Teagasc to conduct a thorough survey of the affected area to assess the extent of the damage caused by the storms.
“The survey results highlighted the severity of the situation, prompting the Minister to take swift action to engage with farmers in the Cooley Peninsula to provide financial aid to help them restore their lands to their pre-storm conditions.
“The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine is now actively engaging with the impacted farmers to facilitate the process of applying for financial support.
“The Minister has emphasised the importance of a collaborative effort to assist those affected by the severe weather events and pledged to work closely with the affected communities in the coming weeks to expedite the delivery of this much-needed assistance.”
Senator McGreehan concluded: “I am so relieved that financial aid is being delivered to affected farmers. The farming community here in North Louth has been devastated by these adverse weather conditions.
“I am very thankful for the direct intervention into this matter by my colleague, Minister McConalogue. He will support our local farming community and this financial aid will, I hope, enable farmers to recoup some of the losses they have had to endure.”
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