Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2021

Wednesday, 5 May 2021

Ceisteanna (673)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

673. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grant aid will be made available for small scale poultry businesses which were totally dependent on selling their product to the hospitality sector pre-Covid-19 and have lost such market for the past 14 months; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such enterprises are unable to avail of Covid-19 business supports due to the fact they are not rateable; if he will ensure that appropriate grant aid is put in place as a matter of urgency to ensure that such businesses remain operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21009/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My officials and I have ongoing contact with all the key stakeholders across the agrifood sector since the start of the pandemic. The Department and I are working to ensure that business and services to farmers can continue, keeping food and other processing facilities operational. A key focus has been on ensuring that the supply chain continues to function, critical state services in processing plants continue to operate so that farmers have an outlet for their produce and the critical certification and other services required to support exports of live animals and products continue to operate.

In addition, 40% of the €337.5 million COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme was made available for food businesses. Similarly, up to 40% of an additional €500 million tranche of the Future Growth Loan Scheme was available to provide long-term investment support for farmers, fishers and food businesses.

It should be noted that, for the poultry sector, production hit record levels in 2020, with a total of 111m birds slaughtered in DAFM approved establishments. Currently, 2021 is trending in a positive direction, with slaughter up 4.9% YTD on the same period in 2020. In addition, prices for poultry meat have remained relatively stable and prices at end of February 2021 for poultry meat were €2.15 per kg, having recovered to the same price as the same period in 2020.

The Department will continue to monitor the markets and any impacts on the agrifood sector including market disturbance arising from the pandemic.

Barr
Roinn