Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
963. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to support the Irish horticulture sector to incentivise Irish vegetable growers to remain in the sector and for new vegetable growers to enter the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48804/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department continues to support the horticulture industry in Ireland with a range of initiatives.
The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Horticulture Sector is intended to assist in the development of the horticulture sector by grant aiding capital investments in specialised plant and equipment including renewable energy, as well as technology adoption specific to commercial horticulture production. The Scheme provides capital grant aid at a rate of up to 40% to all approved investments with qualifying young farmers receiving up to 50% grant aid. The 2024 Scheme has a budget of €10 million and is due to open shortly for applications.
The EU funded Producer Organisation scheme for fruit and vegetables, administered by my Department, provides an invaluable support to the horticulture sector. The Scheme delivered €4.2 million in aid in 2022 and similar levels of aid will be payable for 2023 activities.
Recognising the challenges currently facing the horticulture sector, I recently secured €2.382 million in funding under the EU Agricultural Reserve. The Horticulture Crisis Fund is open for applications until 8 November 2023. It targets the horticulture sub-sectors most at risk due to losses incurred as a result of a combination of high input prices, low output prices and reduced yield. The field vegetable sector is one of the horticulture sub-sectors included in this scheme, which provides a once-off payment to eligible applicants. The scheme seeks to ensure the short-term security and thus the long-term viability of growers in the sub-sectors supported.
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 am committed to seeing this sector grow and flourish in the years ahead and my Department, together with stakeholders, are working collaboratively to progress all actions in this strategy.
