Specific Details
IFA National Weather Resilience Policy
Intended results
To seek support from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the recommendations outlined in the IFA National Weather Resilience Policy and the opportunity to meet with him to discuss how the Government can work with the farming community to deliver practical, effective solutions.
To highlight how Irish farming is increasingly experiencing the impacts of more frequent and severe weather events, including prolonged rainfall, storms and flooding. These events are affecting farm viability, food production and rural communities.
To highlight that farmers are not just vulnerable to extreme weather events, they also often play a key role in subsequent recovery operations. With available machinery, local knowledge, and strong community networks, they are uniquely placed to provide immediate assistance during emergencies. However, without formal recognition, legal cover, and practical supports, their ability to help is limited.
To stress that IFA's unique branch structure, with organised representation in every community and a strong county and national network, provides an existing framework that can support coordinated local response efforts. IFA members are embedded in their communities and can quickly mobilise equipment, manpower and on-the-ground intelligence when extreme weather strikes.
With appropriate protocols, recognition and engagement with emergency services, this structure could significantly strengthen rural resilience and emergency response capacity nationwide.
To support this essential role, IFA proposes that the following actions/steps need to be taken to ensure that there is an efficient and robust response to extreme weather events on farms and rural communities
1. Provide full public indemnity to farmers in their role as community first responders during severe weather events, carrying out tasks such as clearing roads of snow/debris, removal of fallen trees, transporting medical supplies and transporting people to medical appointments etc.
2. Develop a National Register of community weather first responders to include farmers. The provision of loader attachments such as snow ploughs to be made available to weather first responders should also be considered by local authorities.
3. Reform of Met Eireann Weather Warning system that factors in the subsequent disruption the weather event causes and also takes a more localised approach than the current county-level system. For example, the major snowfall event of January 2025 occurred under an Orange weather warning despite the event causing significant disruption over a number of days for parts of Munster.
4. Establish a permanent National Farm and Rural Community Hardship Fund to deliver fast, fair, and flexible financial support to farm families in the aftermath of severe weather events.
5. Urgent development of a national, properly coordinated scheme to support the safe removal and management of dangerous roadside trees.
6. Include IFA representation on both National and Local Emergency Response Committees/Taskforces, ensuring rural communities are directly represented in emergency planning and response coordination.
7. Strengthen rural infrastructure resilience with targeted investment in roads, power, and water systems capable of withstanding extreme weather.
8. Adequate and ring-fenced funding must be allocated to local authorities to ensure they have the resources, stañng and equipment necessary to prepare for and respond effectively to extreme weather events.
9. Prioritise climate adaptation and resilience measures, learning from international best practices in flood defence, drought management, and infrastructure protection.
Storm Wind
Frequent storms bring widespread damage to farm buildings, forestry, and power infrastructure. Farmers often step in to assist but face personal and legal risk. Several Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports indicate that the number of intense storms in the North Atlantic region is projected to increase over the coming years.
The increase in severe storms presents a significant health and safety risk. During high winds, trees are more likely to shed branches or collapse entirely. Large trees can cause serious injury or fatalities, and damage property, vehicles, and farm infrastructure.
IFA proposes
• Targeted government support for farm building repairs and power generators
• Provision of full indemnity for farmers assisting with debris clearance during/after extreme weather events.
• Financial support in the form of grant aid should be provided to assist with the rebuilding of agricultural sheds damaged or lost due to severe weather.
• Urgent development of a national scheme to support the safe removal of dangerous roadside trees. This would reduce the risk to farmers working near public roads, as well as to the general public and road users. Government action is required immediately to prevent accidents, fatalities, and extensive property damage resulting from unsafe trees in storm-prone areas.
2. Snow/Frost/Ice
Severe snowfalls and prolonged frost can quickly isolate rural communities. For farmers, blocked roads mean milk collection may be disrupted; veterinary services may not be able to reach herds, and feed and fuel deliveries are delayed. Livestock may also become stranded due to heavy snowfall. Severe frost or ice can cause significant damage to farming communities.
Frozen pipes often cut off water to sheds and homes. Farmers are often the only ones with the machinery capable of clearing or gritting local roads
IFA proposes
• Provision to fully indemnify farmers during extreme weather events, to clear snow from local roads or treat icy roads to restore access in rural areas. This would ensure timely access for emergency services, reduce rural isolation, and protect animal welfare.
• Develop a national register of community weather first responders to include farmers. The provision of loader attachments such as snow ploughs to be made available to weather first responders should also be considered by local authorities.
Excessive rain / Flooding
Flooding caused by prolonged rainfall has severe and long-term effects on farms. Crop losses, contamination of silage, and damage to soil structure can incur significant financial losses on farmers. Flooded yards and farmhouses are not only costly to repair but also pose serious animal health and biosecurity risks.
Rural roads can be cut off, isolating families and leaving communities vulnerable. Despite repeated flood events, many farmyards are not included in OPW flood defence plans, leaving farm families to shoulder the financial and emotional burden alone.
IFA proposes
• Flood defence plans should be extended to farmyards and critical rural infrastructure, alongside emergency supports for fodder, livestock relocation, and rapid relief payments.
Infrastructure protection and restoration - Road Network
Rural roads are the backbone of Ireland's farming communities, yet they are often the most vulnerable during severe weather. Snow, flooding, and fallen trees regularly make smaller regional and local roads impassable. In many cases, these roads are not prioritised in local authority emergency response plans, leaving farm families isolated. Farmers themselves frequently clear roads with tractors and loaders, but without legal cover, they face liability risks.
IFA proposes
• Rural roads to be included in national and county-level severe weather emergency planning. Furthermore, during declared emergencies, farmers who assist with snow clearance or debris removal must be fully indemnified ensuring they are not left exposed to potential public liability claims while providing a vital community service
Power supply
Power supply is critical to farm operations, and outages can cause immediate and significant disruption. Severe weather events such as storms and flooding regularly lead to downed power lines, leaving entire regions without electricity for days at a time. Rural areas, particularly those on the periphery of the national grid, often experience the slowest response times when outages occur.
IFA proposes
• Urgent investment in strengthening the rural electricity grid and prioritising rapid ESB response in farming regions.
• A dedicated grant scheme should be introduced to support the purchase and installation of on-farm back-up generators to ensure continuity of operations during prolonged outages.
• A review of building regulations to reinstate the option of chimneys or solid-fuel systems in new rural builds to ensure households retain emergency heating options.
• Support for solar panel users to purchase battery storage systems, allowing stored power use during outages and reducing dependence on grid electricity.
Water supply
Water is one of the most critical resources for farming, yet it is highly vulnerable to disruption during extreme weather. Freezing temperatures can cut off supply through burst pipes, and floods can contaminate drinking water. For livestock, lack of access to clean water quickly becomes a welfare issue, while for food production it creates serious risks to quality and safety.
Many rural communities also rely on small group water schemes that lack the resilience to cope with extended outages or or contamination events.
IFA proposes
• Targeted investment in rural water infrastructure, including upgrading group water schemes and ensuring emergency tanker provision during supply interruptions.
Activating the farmer network
Farmers are deeply embedded in their local communities and possess both the equipment and expertise to respond quickly during severe weather events. Tractors, loaders, and machinery can clear blocked roads, deliver fodder, or transport vulnerable individuals in emergencies. Farmers' knowledge of the local landscape knowing where neighbours live, which roads are passable, and where livestock are at risk makes them an invaluable asset when official emergency services are stretched.
However, the farmer network is not formally recognised or activated in current national emergency response frameworks.
IFA proposes
• Accelerate the implementation of the Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Regulations ensuring that agricultural users and farm-based enterprises are recognised as critical entities.
• Establishment of a structured communication and coordination system between local authorities, emergency services, and IFA branches during declared severe weather events. This would ensure that farmer volunteers can be mobilised quickly, directed efficiently, and supported with legal and insurance cover.
• Provision of front loader attachments such as snow ploughs throughout the country that can be used by agricultural machinery in response to extreme snowfall events.
5. Indemnity protection for farmers
A major barrier preventing farmers from stepping in to help their communities during severe weather events is the risk of liability. Currently, there is no automatic assurance that a farmer clearing snow from a public road, removing debris, or using machinery in an emergency is covered under any insurance framework. This leaves farmers vulnerable to claims in the event of accidents, even when they are acting in good faith to protect neighbours and the wider public.
IFA proposes
• County Council liability insurance to be formally extended to cover farmers engaged in community assistance during officially declared weather emergencies. This would provide clarity, legal protection, and peace of mind, ensuring farmers are not discouraged from helping when their assistance is most needed.
• Amendment to the Civil Liability Act to ensure the use of agricultural machinery and equipment is covered under the “Good Samaritan Law” during recovery response to weather emergencies. Individuals acting in good faith to assist their communities should be protected from liability for unintentional damage or accidents arising from such actions.
• In addition, insurance companies should be required to streamline and accelerate claims processes for weather-related on-farm damage, including to buildings, equipment, and crops. Farmers cannot wait months for compensation while trying to recover from devastating losses.
Weather warnings
Severe weather warnings issued by Met Eireann play a critical role in protecting public safety. For farmers, these warnings are not just informational, they directly shape decisions about livestock management, machinery use, and travel.
However, there is often confusion about what the different warning levels mean in practice for rural communities, and many farmers feel that the implications for agriculture are not sufficiently highlighted in public communications. Clearer guidance, tailored to farming activities, would help farmers prepare more effectively and reduce risks.
Furthermore, the county-level approach can often fail to capture the impact of a weather event at a more localised level. IFA welcomes the announcement of Met Eireann changing to a localised weather warning system which will provide clearer direction to those at risk and support more targeted emergency preparedness.
IFA proposes
• Expand Met Eireann's impact-based forecasting outreach to include a tailored farm weather risk bulletin, addressing livestock safety, crop damage, and rural power risks
Yellow - Not unusual weather. Localised danger - Secure loose equipment, prepare sheds, and check livestock access to shelter and water.
Orange - Infrequent weather. Dangerous / disruptive - Restrict non-essential outdoor work, move stock to safer ground, secure buildings and machinery.
Red - Rare weather. Extremely dangerous / destructive - Cease all non-essential activity, stay off roads, prioritise family and ivestock safety.
Recent names storms in Ireland
• Storm Barra (December 2021) — Nationwide high winds, widespread power cuts, building damage.
• Storm Eunice (February 2022) — Brought snow, high winds, and red weather warnings.
• Storm Franklin (February 2022) — Major flooding across the country, particularly along rivers.
• Storm Debi (November 2023) — Nationwide red warnings, power outages, significant wind damage.
• Storm lsha (January 2024) — Severe winds caused travel disruption and structural damage.
• Storm Jocelyn (January 2024) —Further wind damage and power cuts, compounding impacts of Storm lsha.
• Storm Eowyn (January 2025) — Extremely high winds, nationwide power cuts and severe infrastructure damage — Red warning
• Storm Amy (October 2025) —High winds, power cuts and major flooding
These storms demonstrate the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather in Ireland, with impacts that go well beyond the duration of the events themselves. Farmers must be given the tools, resources, and legal protections to act in response to these warnings in order to protect rural communities.
Climate Adaptation
To date, Ireland has prioritised its climate adaptation policies around emissions reduction. It is important to recognise that some countries have already shifted emphasis towards climate adaptation, acknowledging that mitigation alone will not prevent the damage being caused.
The following are examples of different climate adaptation approaches taken in other countries
• The Netherlands has invested billions in flood defences and water management systems, creating one of the most advanced adaptation frameworks in the world. Large-scale infrastructure such as dykes, movable barriers, and water storage basins are now central to protecting farmland and communities.
• Denmark has prioritised coastal erosion defences, investing in sea walls and managed retreat programmes to safeguard rural areas.
• France and Spain have expanded their national adaptation plans to focus on drought resilience, supporting irrigation, water storage, and fodder security for farmers.
IFA proposes
• These examples highlight an important reality while carbon reduction remains a global goal, national resilience through adaptation is now the immediate priority for many countries. Ireland must follow suit by developing a robust adaptation strategy that protects its rural communities.
Humanitarian fund
The Department of Social Protection's Humanitarian Assistance Scheme provides support for households affected by flooding but does not extend to farm business losses. Similarly, Department of Agriculture relief measures are often ad hoc, activated only after severe crises, and can take months to deliver.
While some local authorities provide small-scale emergency aid, there is no dedicated, well-resourced national fund to support farmers in recovering quickly from weather-related disasters.
IFA proposes
• The IFA is calling for the establishment of a National Farm and Rural Community Hardship Fund to provide fast, fair, and flexible support during and after extreme weather events.
This fund should
- Be permanent and pre-funded, so that support is available immediately after a crisis.
- Cover both farm business impacts (fodder, crop loss, infrastructure damage, livestock relocation) and household hardship (flooded homes, prolonged power outages).
- Deliver payments within a defined timeframe (e.g. within 14 days of an application).
- Operate through a single, streamlined application process to reduce red tape.
- Be coordinated between the Department of Agriculture, Department of Social Protection, and local authorities to ensure no gaps in eligibility.
Farmer Safety and Personal Risk Awareness
While farmers play a crucial role in supporting their communities during emergencies, they must also remain aware of the personal and equipment-related risks involved. Common risks include
• Tree removal hazards — falling branches, unstable trees, and chainsaw injuries.
• Water damage to tractors and machinery — operating in floods or on soft ground can cause costly mechanical damage.
• Corrosion from salt and grit — prolonged use of equipment for gritting can damage spreaders, shakers, and trailers.
The IFA advises that all farmers participating in emergency assistance should
• Assess risks before taking action.
• Use proper protective equipment.
• Avoid operating alone in hazardous conditions.
• Report unsafe conditions to local authorities.
To highlight that Community support must never come at the cost of personal safety or long-term equipment damage. It is vital that there is a communication strategy during extreme weather events which emphasises the importance of adhering to these principles.
To stress that the development of a clear, practical guidance framework to support farmers and community volunteers working alongside local authorities during extreme weather events is essential. This guide should set out agreed protocols, communication channels, health and safety requirements, insurance and liability clarity, and coordination procedures to ensure that voluntary assistance is delivered safely, efficiently and in support of official emergency response structures.
To highlight that The Irish Farmers Association is calling for partnership, preparedness, and proactive investment. Farmers are ready to play their part by adopting resilience measures, protecting the environment, and contributing to community response but this must be matched by strong Government action, targeted supports, and clear communication systems.
To stress that building resilience is not only about repairing damage, it is about planning for the future. With the right policies, Ireland can ensure that farm families are equipped to withstand severe weather, safeguard food supply, and strengthen rural communities.
To emphasise that the IFA is committed to working with Government, state agencies, and local authorities to ensure that every farm, family, and community is better protected against the challenges of severe weather events.