Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 March 2022
152. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he can support the pig sector during the ongoing fodder crisis and the uncertainty facing agricultural markets in 2022. [17063/22]
View answer184. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports he is providing for the pig sector. [17062/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 184 together.
In relation to the question raised by the Deputy relating to the fodder issue I have tasked a National Fodder and Food Security Committee to prepare an industry response to the emerging crisis in feed, fodder, fertiliser and other inputs, and to develop contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises.
Our pig farmers have always been remarkably resilient but I am acutely aware of the unprecedented challenges that Irish pig farmers are facing at present. The continued development of the pigmeat sector is a priority for me given the pivotal role the industry plays in the national economic context. It is the fourth largest agri-food sector, behind beef and dairy, and supports approximately 8,000 rural job.
Last month, I announced the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme (PEPS), with a fund of up to €7 million, for commercial pig farmers. This is an urgent, short-term response to assist producers that would be viable but for the extreme current circumstances and allow space for a more medium-term adjustment to market signals.
This scheme was a one off, exchequer funded scheme open to commercial pig undertakings which had produced more than 200 pigs in the period 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021 inclusive. This includes pigs sent to slaughter, exported or sold commercially from a breeding herd.
The scheme was notified to the European Commission under the agriculture de minimis rules, which provide for a maximum payment per undertaking of €20,000.
Applications for the PEPS closed on 20 March 2022. The first tranche of payments was made last week, with the remaining applications due for processing as soon as possible. All information on the scheme can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/service/d7fb3-pig-exceptional-payment-scheme-peps/
This scheme is part of a wider package of measures to support the sector, including intensified efforts by Bord Bia to promote quality assured Irish pigmeat in the domestic and export markets with dedicated media advertising campaigns underway nationally, as well as EU-funded pigmeat promotion programmes running in key export markets.
Teagasc has also intensified its dedicated, ongoing advisory supports being provided to pig farmers and is actively engaging with pig farmers to explore the options potentially available to them.
There is also support for access to finance through SCBI, particularly the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme and the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, both of which are financed by my Department in partnership with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and can be used for working capital and include features which will assist the current financial needs of pig farmers.
Furthermore, my Department continues to engage at EU level to ensure a joined-up EU approach to the challenges arising from Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, including through the European Food Security Crisis preparedness response Mechanism (EFSCM). Last week the Commission announced the adoption of exceptional support measures across the agriculture sector, along with a communication on Food Security. In addition, the Commission in view of the particularly difficult situation in the pig meat sector has opened a new private storage aid scheme to assist in stabilising the sector.
The Department is currently examining the detailed requirements and conditionality attached to the exceptional aid allocation to Ireland of €15.8 million in EU funding.
