I propose to take Questions Nos. 610 and 621 together.
On 16 November, I announced an additional €7.147 million in state funding to support the tillage sector. This additional national support represents a 100% top-up to the €7.147 million allocated under the EU Agricultural Reserve which was announced in early October. This state funding is being used to support growers with unharvested crops by way of the Unharvested Crop Support Scheme with the remaining available funds being used as a top-up to all eligible recipients of the Ag Reserve payment announced in October.
A press release was issued by my Department on my announcement of the Unharvested Crop Support Scheme and was covered widely by the agricultural media at the time.
The Unharvested Crop Loss Support Scheme opened for applications on 16 November and farmers who wished to avail of the scheme had to submit applications by close of business on Friday 24 November 2023. While I appreciate that the period for submitting applications was relatively short, it was necessary to allow sufficient time for my officials to process applications and for the necessary inspections to be carried out to enable payments to be made in January 2024.
Payments under the Unharvested Crop Support Scheme are being made under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1465. This Regulation provides for financial support from the EU Agricultural Reserve and also allows for Member States to top-up this support with state funding. The Regulation clearly specifies that payments must be made by 31 January 2024. In view of the very short window to administer the Scheme and to have payments made by the 31 January deadline, it is not possible for my Department to extend the deadline for applications.
