Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 October 2023
222. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how the people of Clare will benefit from his Department’s allocations in Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45767/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2024 Estimates provide a gross vote of €1.942 billion for my department. My goal in this budget is to support our farm families in Co. Clare and nationally. The funding provided supports the sector’s environmental ambition and on-farm sustainability while at the same time supporting farmer incomes and providing vital infrastructure to support the development of our fishing sector and coastal communities. Budget 2024 supports farm families as we implement the targeted supports for farmers provided in the largest ever €10 billion CAP Strategic Plan (CSP).
Measures included in Budget 2024 are:
• Over €100m in supports for beef and sheep sectors (€200/cow; €20/ewe)
• Over €700 million in funding in 2024 for agri-environment initiatives.
• Higher rate of TAMS grant (70%) for new tanks for those importing slurry.
• New separate TAMS investment ceiling for slurry storage tanks.
• Accelerated Capital Allowances on Slurry Storage continued.
• Targeted support for Tillage farmers.
• Key agri-taxation supports secured and land leasing targeted at active farmers.
• ACRES allocation increased to €200m to accommodate the full 50k participants promised under the CSP.
• Schemes for soil sampling and multispecies swards.
• €57m allocation to support Organic farmers.
• €110m in funding provided to drive ambitions of the Forestry Programme.
• €6.5m dairy beef scheme.
• €14.35 million to support the National Strategy for Horticulture
The farm, food and fishing sectors are the lifeblood of rural and coastal communities and contribute enormously to prosperity and employment creation right across the economy.
The definitive allocations will be set out in the 2024 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) which will be published later this year.
