Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1103. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will increase funding for the tillage sector with respect to research, developing new markets, centres of excellence and achieving greater economies of scale; if that will be reflected in the price received for tillage farmers produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10262/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has funded research in various aspects of crop production to the tune of €12.5 million in recent years. By way of example, in 2020, €600,000 was provided to Teagasc to develop micro-malting capacity in their laboratories in Oakpark. These important supports are in addition to direct funding which Teagasc receives from my Department annually, some of which is also directed towards the tillage sector.

Both I and my Department continue to encourage tillage farmers to pursue high value food and drinks markets including malting, brewing and food oats which in the main bring higher returns to growers than traditional markets for feed grain.

In addition, my Department has introduced a number of support measures for the tillage sector in recent years to help its competitiveness including:

- a Voluntary Coupled Protein Aid Scheme providing a fund of €3 million with the aim of sustaining production of plant proteins. It is proposed to continue with the VCS for the CAP transitional period for tillage farmers. Furthermore, my Department is considering the continuation of the VCS for protein crops in the next CAP.

- The Tillage Capital Investment Scheme (TCIS) under TAMS II covers specific areas of investment for tillage farmers. Over €16m has been paid to farmers to date under the scheme. In addition, over €7m has been paid to farmers for tillage investments under the Young Farmer’s Capital Investment Scheme as part of TAMS II.

-In Budget 2021, details of an Agri-environmental initiative that is intended to encourage tillage farmers to increase soil organic carbon levels by chopping and incorporating straw from tillage crops was announced. This measure will operate on a pilot basis in the transitional period between CAP programmes and has a budget of €10m.

In addition to the above financial supports, my Department runs a number of important programmes including the Crop Variety Evaluation Programme and the various Seed Certification Schemes.

Significant measures have been put in place to-date to support the tillage sector but I am acutely aware of the challenges it faces. In this regard, both I and my officials will continue to monitor the situation to ensure the sector’s viability is maintained.