Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have given the commitment to secure and deliver the funding. Although I have not yet received the funds, it was really important, given the pressure the sector was under, to provide clarity on what support would be forthcoming from the Government. I have been engaging on an ongoing basis this very long spring with all farm representative organisations, and also those in the tillage sector. I was very aware of the growing pressure on the sector and the need for intervention in advance of the planting to give confidence. Over the months ahead, I will have to identify the funding. It was really important before seeds were put in the soil, and to ensure we would see crops sown, for me, as Minister, to give additional confidence to farmers regarding what would be available to them.

At the end of the harvest last year, after the really difficult autumn, we intervened to provide support. I secured in last year’s budget compensation of €1,000 per hectare for unharvested crops and €50 per hectare for all tillage crops in light of the difficult year and harvest. I have now moved to commit to €100 per hectare for all in the tillage sector. It will be for all field-grown crops, apart from the protein crops, which will have a separate and much larger payment, as in previous years.

See this speech in context