Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 April 2024
104. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants under the tillage incentive scheme; the total area of land; and the average farm size of those partaking. [16914/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS) is a support Measure for farmers to incentivise the increase in the eligible tillage crop area in order to assist in reducing the dependency on imported feed material.
The Scheme is funded from a National Exchequer allocation to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine provided to offset some of the negative impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on food and input prices and availability. The scheme is implemented pursuant to the Temporary Crisis Framework for State Aid measures to support the economy following the aggression against Ukraine by Russia.
Under the 2023 Tillage Incentive Scheme, 2,862 farm entities received some €8,685 million in support of 27,081 hectares converted and maintained as tillage.
The average conversion rate to tillage was nine hectares per holding out of an overall average claimed area of 80 hectares.
