Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
247. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the pigmeat sector is adequately supported in a highly competitive environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47214/23]
View answerI am very aware of the contribution of the pig meat sector to Irish agri-food as a whole, supporting significant levels of direct employment as well as their role in supporting rural economies and the wider national economy.
In 2022, at a time when the pigmeat sector was experiencing severe financial hardship and when pig producers had to deal with enormous financial pressures, I provided significant supports, to this very valuable and important sector within Irish Agriculture.
My Department successfully delivered two financial aid schemes to commercial pig farmers in 2022. In February 2022, I announced the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme funded by the Exchequer to support commercial pig farmers. This scheme provided for a payment of up to €20,000 per farmer. In total, there were 212 beneficiaries under this scheme and €4.05m was provided to the sector.
Later that year I successfully secured EU funding for the sector through EU Exceptional Aid. This was distributed to commercial pig farmers through the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme 2. The Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme 2, a voluntary scheme for pig farmers to support the viability of this important sector, was launched in June 2022 and provided for a payment of up to €100,000 per farmer. In total, there were 163 beneficiaries under this scheme and just over €14m was provided to the Sector.
In total these two schemes provided in excess of €18m in financial support at a time when the sector was under significant financial stress to ensure its ongoing viability.
In addition to this financial support, Teagasc has a dedicated ongoing advisory support service for pig farmers. My Department continues to monitor the market situation closely and engage at EU level to ensure a joined-up EU approach to the challenges arising from Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.
As in other meat sectors, global trade conditions will be crucial in determining the outlook for the Irish pigmeat sector over the medium to longer term. According to the CSO’s August 2023 report, Irish pigmeat exports continue to perform well totalling €587.78m for the January to August period of 2023, and my Department continues to work on new Irish pigmeat export opportunities.
I firmly believe that the pig meat sector in Ireland remains competitive and in recognition of its important role to the economy, I have provided significant support to ensure it remains viable.
