Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies. I am fully assessing how we can spend that funding and the level of co-funding along with that. The first starting point is looking at the types of interventions we can do that will support farmers as much as possible.

As the Deputies will know, I have made interventions already with the tillage scheme, which we discussed, to encourage additional grass growth in relation to multi-species sward and clover swards. There is also the initial support package for the pig sector, which is under even more increased pressure since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. I am working with the team in the Department and the rapid response team I established to do that. I will also be working very closely with the fodder and feed security sector.

My key message is that we must plan ahead. The key priority for farms this year is the importance of growing grass. We have to do that. I am looking at how I can support the sector. We are going to need to have that fodder in store for next autumn and winter. We must ensure the stocks are there and we have to plan for that now. We cannot plan on the basis of being able to import additional grain if we do not grow and store enough grass this year. I have set out what I have been doing and will continue to do to support the sector in terms of assessing the best way to use the flexibility that has been provided at European level.

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