Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 June 2023
157. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to adjusting or adding aspects to the tillage incentive scheme to ensure longer-term results, such as requiring land to be used for tillage purposes for multiple years to avail of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29975/23]
View answerI introduced the Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS) last year in response to the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The Scheme is a support measure for farmers to incentivise the increase in eligible tillage crops thereby reducing dependency on imports.
A payment of €400/ha was made on eligible tillage crop area. To qualify for the payment, there must have been an increase in the total tillage crops grown on the holding in 2022 versus 2021.
In 2022, the Scheme delivered €10.1 million in support for the sector. It has proved to be successful and popular with farmers and it is acknowledged as having contributed to the estimated 6% increase in tillage area, or an additional 20,000 hectares in 2022.
I secured funding of €10 million for the continuation of the Scheme in Budget 2023. The 2023 TIS opened on 14 June and provides a support payment of €400 per hectare to tillage farmers who convert additional land to eligible tillage crops in 2023. While there is no requirement for land to remain in tillage for multiple years to avail of the Scheme, TIS 2023 does provide support to tillage farmers who continue to maintain the current tillage area converted under TIS 2022 through a maintenance payment of €200 per hectare. Both payments are subject to compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme.
The importance of the tillage sector is recognised in the Food Vision 2030 strategy and in the Climate Action Plan 2023 where a target is set out to increase the area in tillage to 400,000 hectares.
To ensure the longer term success and growth of the tillage sector I recently established the Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group to produce a detailed plan and recommendations to sustainably grow the sector to 400,000 hectares by 2030. The Group has been tasked to provide a preliminary report by the end of July 2023 with a final plan submitted by end of October.
