Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
921. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government will provide the 200% top-up allowed under the Exceptional Aid support from the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47983/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recognition of the difficulties experienced by the tillage and horticultural sectors this year, I secured €9.53 million from the EU Agricultural Reserve of which €7.147 million will go to support the tillage sector and €2.382 to the horticulture sector.
The tillage allocation will be distributed as a one-off flat rate payment of €28 per hectare on the area of oilseed rape, winter and spring barley, wheat and rye as declared under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS) in 2023. The minimum area for payment will be 5 hectares and will be capped at 100 hectares per grower.
The horticulture allocation targets ‘High-wire’ protected glass house producers of tomatoes, cucumber and peppers, field crop growers, brown mushroom growers, heated strawberry growers, vertically farmed greens and commercial apple growers
In Budget 2024, I secured an additional €8 million funding which will be specifically targeted at the tillage sector. I have been engaging with farming organisations on the best way to utilise this funding and will be providing details on this shortly.
