Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
496. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has discussed the announced tillage payment of €100 with an Taoiseach given his public comments on the inadequacy of the announced payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21727/24]
View answerThe wet spring conditions were very challenging for tillage growers resulting in the delayed sowing of spring cereal crops. Thankfully, the improvement in weather has allowed sowing and tillage operations to catch up in recent weeks.
To give confidence to tillage and horticulture (field grown food crops) farmers to plant crops this year, and to give them confidence in the future of their industry, I announced last month my commitment to deliver a €100/ha payment for all crops sown for harvest in 2024. My Department is currently working on the next steps to deliver this payment, including the identification of appropriate funding and the necessary State Aid and other approvals.
As Minister, I continue to engage with Government colleagues, including the Taoiseach to make this payment a reality for farmers who have sown crops this year.
In addition to above support of €100/ha, significant additional support was provided to the tillage sector last year in light of the challenges that growers faced. Payments under the Protein Aid Scheme totalled over €10.1m. The Straw Incorporation Measure provided €16.5 million for tillage farmers, while the Tillage Incentive Scheme provided €8.3 million in support.
Furthermore, I secured €7.147m from the EU Agricultural Reserve to support the tillage sector last year and this was topped up with a further €7.147m in State funding. These funds were paid out in January 2024 to support growers with unharvested crops and as a once-off flat rate payment on the area of oilseed rape and cereal crops.
