An increase of funding from €3m to €5m for the Minor Works Scheme has been welcomed by the IFA, but the organisation has insisted that farmland must be included in the new Flood Risk Management Plan.

Attending the launch of the plan in Athlone on Thursday, IFA flood project team chair Padraic Joyce, stressed the that urban areas alone could not be prioritised, and that the plan should be extended to include flood risk management for farmers and rural householders.

Joyce also stated that a farmyard relocation scheme should be put in place, which would support farmers to move their farmyards away from areas that were at risk of flooding.

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The IFA is due to meet with the Minister for the Office of Public Works Keven Moran, and intend to highlight their proposals on the issue.

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