Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)

If we are to go on precedent, we expect it to be the same again.

One of the big complaints farmers have is the valuation they are receiving for reactor cattle, which is too low and does not represent the current market value of cattle. I will give an example. James from Sligo sent me a handwritten note only the other day. In May 2025, he lost seven cattle that were valued at 2023 prices. That is the big problem he has. When he goes out to buy like for like to replace those cattle, he is down €6,000 when he goes to the mart to buy the like of those cattle again. That is a major problem we have here. Farmers need to get the current market value for their reactors in order to replace them in their herd.

The Minister talked about increasing the ACRES programme and €25 million extra in 2026. I want to find out something from him, as it is not clear. He mentioned additional money, which I want to try to get to the core of. On the new applicants who are in this scheme, will there be more new applicants coming into it or will he give more money to existing applicants? There is €1.5 billion over five years. Has that increased? Is the same money over five years? If it is the same money over five years, then this is not new money. It is just money moving around. That is one of the issues we have to get clear answers on. It is an insult to suggest to farmers they are being given more money because they entered the scheme, when many of them are still awaiting payment from 2022 and 2023. No farmer has been paid for the non-productive investments they applied for over two years, which they have completed and paid the money out for. Yet, they have not got the money back.

Tillage farmers in this sector have been let down as well. The Minister said he would bring in a package for them. They were before us last week. We expected to see something in the budget but there is no sign of anything. It is the same thing in so many sectors.

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