Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1218. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if due consideration will be given to the inclusion of marginal agricultural sectors in support policies and schemes, given that these sectors are vital to the diversification aims of both Food Vision 2030 and the National Horticultural Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56900/23]
View answerThe horticulture and poultry sectors make a valuable contribution to Irish agri-food industry as a whole, supporting significant levels of direct and indirect employment as well as their role in supporting the rural economy and the wider national economy. The CSO valued the output of the poultry meat sector at €225.7 million for 2023 and the horticulture sector had a farmgate value of €529 million in 2022, neither of which are considered marginal.
My Department continues to monitor the markets and any impacts on the agri-food sector and I am acutely aware of the pressures being faced by many in the agri-food sector due to the increase in input costs, exacerbated by the impact of the illegal war in Ukraine. Indeed, I have responded by providing significant supports to the agri-food sector in response to the challenges being faced.
As in other meat sectors, global trade conditions will be crucial in determining the outlook for the Irish poultry sector over the medium to longer term, hence my Department’s focus on market access and developing market opportunities is key and in line with Food Vision 2030. Poultry is normally reared under contract to processors, for a pre-agreed price, and therefore poultry producers are not typically subject to the same price fluctuations as other farmers.
The horticulture sector is supported through a number of schemes and policy supports including the EU Scheme for Producer Organisations in the Fruit and Vegetable Sector, the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector, various Brexit Adjustment Reserve Schemes and the Horticulture Crisis Fund whose payments are due to issue in January 2024. These Schemes collectively represent very significant support for this important sector.
Furthermore, I together with my Ministerial colleague Pippa Hackett, secured €10 million in Budget 2024 to support the continuation of the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector and a further €1.35 million for innovation and diversification in the horticulture sector in response to an opportunity identified in the National Strategy for Horticulture which was published in 2023.
