Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2022
139. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budgetary measures that are affecting suckler beef and sheep farmers under Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53122/22]
View answerThe budgetary provision for my DepartmentiIn 2023 is €2.14 billion, the highest ever level of funding for the Department, and represents an increase of €283m on the 2022 provision, or a 13% increase overall, to support farmers, fishers, and rural and coastal communities.I plan to introduce a new scheme to continue the beef welfare measures which were previously funded under BEEP-S. This new scheme will sit alongside the new €150/cow Suckler Carbon Efficiency Scheme which builds on the BDGP and BEEP-S schemes targeting efficiency gains, and a €20 million Sheep Improvement Scheme, which aims to build on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare by providing support for actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector.
I have maintained the budget for targeted beef and sheep supports of over €100 million. Beef and sheep farmers will also be well placed to benefit from the enhanced supports for fodder aid, and a number of other support schemes, including for example the ACRES scheme, and the Organics Scheme.
I am also providing €5 million in support for a continuation of the dairy beef calf scheme in 2023.
Another significant support for the beef and sheep sectors is the enhanced support for early-stage producer organisations in the incoming CAP Strategic Plan which, in addition to providing administrative and advisory support of up to €33,000 to groups, provides under competition law for collective bargaining on output prices thereby strengthening their position in the supply chain.
However, I am, acutely aware of the pressures being faced across the agri-food sector due to the increase in input costs. Since the invasion of Ukraine, I have taken a proactive approach to dealing with the massive challenges arising for the agri-food and fisheries sector, including providing €91 million in exceptional supports for the sector.
Central to this is the €56m Fodder Support Scheme which pays farmers up to €1,000 for saving hay and silage. The scheme will be in plact for the 2023 fodder-making season too.
