Fianna Fáil TD for Louth, Erin McGreehan has confirmed to Agriland that the first batch of payments will be made to those impacted by flooding on the Cooley Peninsula this week.

Over the course of the week, 39 payments will go out to farmers in the area, with 12 more herds set to receive money in the "near future".

Deputy McGreehan said that there have been 51 successful herds in Cooley, with a combined allocation of €188,000.

“I am relieved, an awful lot of work went into it. I’m relieved 51 farmers will receive cheques," she said.

"I spoke to a few of them, I’ve asked them to let me know when it’s received so I can knock them off the list. It’s a long time, it’s far too long. The money has been issued though, that’s the main thing," she added.

Going forward, Deputy McGreehan told Agriland she will continue to work with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to put a relief scheme in place for farmers impacted by flooding.

"For me, the next thing is about making that statutory scheme. That’s the piece of policy that I have to work on," she concluded.

Last week, Sinn Féin TD for Louth, Ruairí Ó’Murchú, questioned the government about its preparations for future flooding in coastal areas.

In a parliamentary question to Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Kevin Moran, Ó’Murchú asked where the Office of Public Works (OPW) stands in relation to natural flood management and other mitigations to protect property, in the face of the estimated rising sea levels.

In response, Minister Moran said the government recognises the risks associated with climate change, and that increases in sea levels and storm surges will result in more frequent coastal erosion.

Minister Moran told Agriland that coastal erosion is “becoming a huge problem”.

“I have seen it in the past, including when I served here with responsibility for the OPW, and I expect it in the future. It will be a major problem,” he said.