McHugh encourages farmers to take part in Teagasc flood damage survey

DONEGAL’S Government Minister Joe McHugh has urged all farmers hit by storm damage during last month’s flood to take part in an ongoing survey.
Teagasc staff have been tasked by the Department of Agriculture to assess the damage from the storm in Inishowen and east Donegal.
Animal losses and damage to land and infrastructure are also being assessed as part of a Teagasc report to Government.
Minister McHugh was speaking after meetings this morning with Donegal representatives of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and Irish National Hill Farmers Association (INHFA).
“The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed visited Inishowen directly in the aftermath of the floods and saw first hand the consequences of the flood,” said Minister McHugh.
“Minister Creed has also met representatives since that visit.
“I have also met many of the farmers affected and seen the damage done on their lands by rivers and streams.
“Teagasc teams have been hard at work across the affected areas and are undertaking a survey of the lands affected and any farmers who haven’t had a site visit to date should make contact this week to be included.
“I want to thank the farming community for their incredible spirit of generosity in the past couple of weeks. Many of them were reluctant to come forward because they saw that other people were out of their homes and didn’t want to create a fuss, as they saw it.
“But it’s important that as much data as possible is gathered so that a full assessment of the damage which was done can be made.
“I also want to pay tribute to the Teagasc teams and the Department of Agriculture staff who have been on the ground carrying out these assessments since the flooding disaster.”
ENDS