Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I welcome this opportunity to present to the committee the Further Revised Estimates for 2025 for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Before I commence, I would like to take the opportunity to highlight the importance of farmers, fishers and foresters to the rural and coastal communities across Ireland and how they contribute to the agrifood industry and the Irish economy as a whole.

The agrifood sector remains Ireland's most important indigenous industry, employing over 169,000 people and supporting €19 billion worth of exports. The sector is responsible for the stewardship of 4.5 million ha of agricultural land and over 800,000 ha of forestry. It consists of 133,000 farms, 2,000 fishing vessels and aquaculture sites, and some 2,000 food production and beverage enterprises. It employs 169,000 people, representing 6.4% of the total workforce but a far greater proportion of that is in rural and coastal areas.

In an increasingly globalised world, the Irish agrifood sector is a world leader. All of this is underpinned and made possible by the work of those producing the raw material. As Minister, it is my priority to ensure that the substantial commitments outlined in the programme for Government are achieved over the lifetime of this Government and I look forward to engaging with committee members in the years ahead.

The Further Revised Estimates, which the committee considers today, provides more detail on last October’s budget. This budget was directed at supporting farm incomes and ensuring the continued development of the agrifood industry. It builds on the significant supports put in place over the lifetime of the previous Government and will ensure the progress made in recent years continues into 2025.

For 2025, the total Exchequer contribution to the Vote of my Department amounts to €2.14 billion. This comprises €1.8 billion in current expenditure and €336.6 million in capital expenditure. When appropriations-in-aid are considered, the 2025 net Vote is estimated at €1.73 billion. The 2025 agriculture Vote provides my Department with the resources both to deal with the many challenges the sector faces and equally to deliver on the opportunities that exist across the agriculture, fisheries, food development, marine and forestry sectors.

Budget 2025 was framed in a manner to maintain and indeed build on all the crucial farmer supports. This is evident in the increases to the key supports in the dairy, beef, tillage, sheep, organic and horticulture sectors. The voted allocation also provides higher levels of funding in several key areas including on TB and ACRES. It makes provisions for the introduction of a new knowledge transfer programme included under the €9.8 billion CAP strategic plan and the commencement of the long-established young farmer scheme.

The agriculture Vote is subdivided into four expenditure programmes corresponding to the four key strategic objectives set out in the current statement of strategy. I will now speak about each of these four programmes in turn.

On programme A, food safety, animal and plant health and animal welfare, the total allocation for 2025 is €443.7 million. Irish farmers, fishermen and agrifood companies produce world-class food and make products to the highest international standards of food safety and quality. Our food safety and traceability systems continue to be recognised as among the very best in the world. Regarding programme expenditure, I am continuing to fund vital services to ensure those standards are maintained, including the meat inspection service and the various supports provided by the Department’s testing laboratories.

The level of bovine TB in Ireland increased in 2024. I acknowledge the joint committee discussed that issue today with officials from my Department. As of 1 June this year, 6,448 herds suffered a TB breakdown in the previous 12 months and the herd incidence is at 6.38%. TB is having a significant impact on farmers and their families, both financially and emotionally. As members are aware, I held a TB forum, or a summit effectively, on 8 May, and held a further meeting with farm bodies and key stakeholders on 22 May to discuss a reset of the TB programme and agree necessary measures to tackle the current disease situation based on veterinary and scientific advice. It is clear from my engagement with farmers and stakeholders that there is an appetite for change within the TB programme.

The programme for Government commits to continuing to provide support for both the deer management strategy group action plan and the wildlife control programme. It also commits to reviewing and updating the national TB 2030 eradication strategy by working in collaboration with farmers and industry. Continuing to drive down TB levels during 2025 and beyond will require the continued support of stakeholders for additional disease-reducing measures. It is critical that, through working in partnership and joint ownership, all stakeholders take the necessary actions to reduce disease transmission, protect herds from new infections and clear TB from restricted herds, and I am happy to engage further on this later as necessary.

Programme A also provides just under €50 million to cover both TVI and fallen animals expenditure. It also cover payments to the OPW for the development of Rosslare Europort, which is a critical project to develop the necessary permanent infrastructure required due to Brexit. Some €14.6 million has been allocated to fund this Department’s apportionment of the 2025 development costs.

On programme B, farm sector supports and controls, a total of just over €1.088 billion is available to programme B in 2025, and is paid almost exclusively to farmers. This is in addition to some €1.2 billion funding from the EU in respect of the various direct payment schemes. This support is vital to farmers who deliver public goods and environmental benefits. As well as the inherent environmental benefits involved, this investment enhances our sustainability credentials, which are invaluable in serving increasingly demanding and knowledgeable customers at home and around the world.