Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As we know, the war in Ukraine has had a number of impacts on our agrifood sector. It is the number one priority for me, the Ministers of State, Deputies Hackett and Heydon, and the Department. I am working with key agrifood and marine sector stakeholders on an ongoing basis to discuss the impact of the crisis on agrifood supply chains, particularly on the viability of farmers and fishers as primary producers.

At farm level, the crisis is likely to have serious impacts on the price of animal feed, fertiliser and fuel, which are all vital farm inputs. We have seen farmers are experiencing that. The food industry very much relies on natural gas for its energy supply and costs will escalate as a result. These factors, and others, are likely to result in price increases for consumer staples at wholesale and retail level. The effect of these impacts is being felt most intensively and acutely at present in the intensive pig and poultry sectors, where feed costs are such a big part of their inputs. It is something I have been very much liaising and engaging with the sector on.

The Department is also in contact with the main banks on an ongoing basis, which it will be important to continue, in addition to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland. On support to the pig sector in particular, the Deputies will be aware that I introduced a scheme three or four weeks ago to deliver up to €20,000 per pig farm. Pig farmers are under even more pressure since then and I am engaging with them at present.

I have established the fodder and food security committee to bring all stakeholders together and to plan for the year ahead. A big effort will be required to work together to ensure that we continue to produce food and meet the additional challenges. The tillage scheme is one of the measures I have introduced, which was referred to. I confirm to the Deputy that the scheme has gone live and is open from today for applications. There has been a very strong response to that. I commend farm families and farmers throughout the country on how they have responded to that.

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