Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising the very important matter of funding for agricultural shows. Agricultural shows are a great celebration of all that is good about rural Ireland. They provide a welcome boost for local economies and attract visitors to support our rural communities. Aside from the contribution they make to the rural economy, agricultural shows also provide a great outlet for local communities, both urban and rural, with local clubs and schools getting involved. Agricultural shows provide entertainment for all the family.Unfortunately, in the past two years, we have not been able to have these celebrations. The reason being, of course, that agricultural shows had fallen silent, with activities in most instances having ceased altogether in the wake of the all-consuming pandemic. This in turn had a negative impact on local communities and businesses. Agricultural shows had, for example, become an important showcase for our agrifood industry and a great shop window for many of the wonderful artisan food producers and small craft businesses this country has to offer.

The Irish Shows Association is the official body representing Irish agricultural shows on an all-island basis. Given the huge contribution these shows make to rural lives, the Department of Rural and Community Development provided an allocation of €600,000 in 2019 to the Irish Shows Association to support the costs of running the shows that were due to take place the following year. This followed on from similar funding provided in the preceding two years. In light of Covid-19 and the unfortunate cancellation of nearly all these shows in 2020 and 2021, it was agreed that the funding of €600,000 would be held in trust by the Irish Shows Association and carried forward to be used by the shows when they were once again operational.

Even though the shows were not operational over the past two years, they continued to incur operational costs. Following a request from the Irish Shows Association, the Minister agreed last year that €200,000 of the funding held in trust could be used to cover the costs incurred by more than 120 shows. These costs were fixed and were required to be met at a time when the shows had little or no access to fundraising sources. Such costs included web hosting, domain name, storage of equipment, renting of land and office space, and bank costs. The funding to help cover these costs was a welcome boost for the shows at that time.

I am glad to be in a position to reaffirm support to agricultural shows this year as we emerge from the grip of Covid-19. I understand from the Irish Shows Association that there is significant excitement and enthusiasm among the show committees in anticipation of the year ahead. The remaining funds - some €400,000 - held in trust by the Irish Shows Association will be available for the coming season. The Minister also committed to reviewing the funding in place for the 2022 season and I expect that process will be completed shortly.

I would also like to take the opportunity to encourage people to attend agricultural shows this year. They are not just a source of great celebration and fun, but they can be very educational too. I believe there is a job of work to be done to increase the understanding of life in rural Ireland, not just in these Houses but across public life. Those of us who grow up on farms or in rural Ireland and later move to the city have an understanding of both rural and urban Ireland. However, I often think that people who have always been urban dwellers are missing out on so much. Therefore, I speak to urban dwellers in particular and suggest that a worthwhile and enjoyable outing this spring or summer would be to attend a nearby agricultural show. If people go on to the Irish Shows Association website, they will see that there will be a show taking place much nearer to them than they may realise.