Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise to Deputy Tóibín. The current situation around the cost and availability of farm inputs remains a significant concern. The impact the invasion of Ukraine is having on our farm families has been the number one priority the Department in recent months. It will continue to be prioritised.

Fertiliser prices have increased significantly over the past 12 months and, unfortunately, there is no sign of an easing of prices in the short to medium term. Prices are being driven by a number of factors, including global demand, energy prices and availability. Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has led to significant hikes in energy prices and significant concerns around supply chain disruption. This is being felt at farm level and is something of which that I am acutely aware, as we have discussed.

In general terms, using the CSO fertiliser price index and taking calcium ammonium nitrate, CAN, as a representative product, there has been an average increase of 321% in the price of these fertilisers from March 2020 to March 2022. Overall, CSO data highlight that the general price of fertilisers has increased 149% in the past 12 months.

As the Deputy knows, one of the key responses I have introduced to try to help mitigate that challenge is the €1,000 fodder support scheme. It is obviously important that we continue to maximise our capacity to grow grass in this country. Therefore, the Government is working closely with farmers to support them. We cannot mitigate the effects of all of the costs but we are certainly working in partnership with farmers to back them over the months ahead.

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