Ms Louise Byrne:

I will start with the question about labour and hand over to Ms Fay, who will deal with the horticultural crisis fund. We do engage with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and have done so for a number of years. The Senator asked about the seasonal employment permit. The fruit and vegetable sector in Ireland does require that seasonal labour as well as permanent labour in the mushroom sector. The Employment Permits Bill 2022 provides for the introduction of a seasonal employment permit to respond to this need. Subject to that legislation being enacted, and it is going through the Houses of the Oireachtas, a pilot scheme for horticulture will commence. It is fully dependent on the legislation being enacted. I think the legislation is at stage three in the legislative process.

We also engage for permanent labour. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment conducted a consultation that opened in summer 2023 and closed in August. Submissions were invited from the sector from representative bodies via public consultation. Preliminary consultation has taken place with the relevant policy Departments on the submissions received, including our Department. Final consideration by the economic migration inter-departmental group chaired by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is expected in the coming weeks. Once the list is finalised and should permits for horticultural workers be sanctioned, an allocation of permits will be notified to the sector - likely in quarter 1 of 2024. I will hand over to Ms Fay, who will cover the horticulture crisis fund.