Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 June 2022
241. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to allocate funds from the European Crisis Reserve to assist farmers in the face of increasing input costs. [28539/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 23rd March, the EU Commission announced the adoption of exceptional adjustment aid to producers in agricultural sectors which have been impacted by Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. The aid provided for was granted as a measure supporting agricultural markets following the transfer of funds from the reserve for crisis in the agricultural sector.
The exceptional aid allocation to Ireland was €15.8 million in EU funding and there are detailed requirements and conditionality attached to this allocation; set out in Commission Delegated Regulation 2022/467 of 23rd March 2022.
On 13th April, I announced the Government's approval for exceptional aid supports of €15.8 million for the pig and horticulture sector, which will be funded from Ireland's EU allocation for exceptional adjustment aid. The approval was for €13 million for the pig sector and €2.8 million for the horticulture sector to support ‘high-wire’ protected glass house producers of tomatoes, cucumber and peppers, field vegetable producers, mushroom producers and commercial apple producers.
EU countries are required to notify the Commission of the measures to be taken before 30 June 2022 and to pay the supports by 30th September 2022. My officials are developing the schemes at present and it is envisaged that payments will be made as soon as possible.
In addition to this use of the EU exceptional aid provision, and in acknowledgement of the need to address the multiple impacts of the illegal invasion in Ukraine on food supply chains and food security, significant funding has already been allocated towards Exchequer funded measures including a targeted intervention package for the tillage sector, and the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme.
