Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
82. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise why certain growers are excluded from the horticulture support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46730/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware and fully appreciate the many challenges that horticulture growers have experienced in 2023 as a result of continued high costs of production and reduced output prices. These challenges were further compounded by the unfavourable weather conditions throughout the 2023 growing season. In recognition of these challenges I secured €2.382 million under the EU Agricultural Reserve for the horticulture sector.
While it is recognised that all horticulture growers have been impacted by the challenges facing the sector the available evidence indicated that the sectors eligible for the scheme (high-wire glass house grown tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, brown mushrooms, field vegetables (excluding potatoes) and field grown salad crops, energy reliant protected crops (heated strawberries and vertically grown greens) and apples) were particularly compromised in terms of economic viability, while the potato, white mushroom and unheated strawberry sub-sectors continued to be financially viable.
Given the limited fund allocation it was not possible to support all horticulture sub-sectors and as a result the fund is targeted at those sub-sectors whose economic viability is compromised due to the continued challenges encountered. The scheme is designed to ensure the short-term security and thus the long-term viability of these sub-sectors.
The Horticulture Crisis Fund is now open for applications until 1st November 2023.
Earlier this year, together with my colleague, Minister Pippa Hackett, I launched the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027. The stakeholder led Strategy sets down a clear vision to grow a more profitable, value-added sector, driven by innovation and sustainability and provides a roadmap for the sector to achieve this potential. I want to see this sector grow and flourish in the years ahead and my Department, together with stakeholders, continues to explore a number of avenues to help the sector overcome challenges it currently faces.
