Mayo call to suspend farm inspections following storm

A Mayo councillor has called for a suspension of all farm compliance inspections from the Department of Agriculture to give farmers time to tidy up their farm buildings, fencing, hedges and trees damaged by the recent storm.

"The untold damage to property will cost millions of euros to fix and weeks and months of work to get farms back to the way they were," said Ballinrobe-based Councillor Michael Burke.

"I am also calling on the government to aid these farmers in the cleanup. No person could have planned or budgeted for what has happened over the past week."

Councillor Burke commended the farmers and local volunteers who assisted Mayo County Council outdoor staff, ESB Networks and Mayo Fire Brigade, among many others, in keeping main roads and local roads passible following the storm.

“The farmers gave invaluable time last Friday morning to getting people back on the road and I hope the government will listen to my call for a break for farmers in the coming months,” he said.