Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

753. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the targeted number of participants in the organic farm scheme for the years 2022 to 2030; the expected allocation to achieve such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12560/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The current Programme for Government is committed to aligning Ireland’s organic land area with that of the EU average of 7.5%, which is also consistent with the target proposed by Agri-Food Strategy 2030. I am fully committed to attaining this ambitious goal and all our organic policies are designed with this in mind.

For the year 2022, an additional €5m has been secured in our budget allocation which would facilitate an additional fifty thousand hectares of land under conversion. This would represent an increase of over 50% in the area currently being farmed organically.

For the years 2023 – 2027, I have proposed the allocation of €256m under the new CAP to continue the development and growth of the organic sector. To attain the land area target of 7.5%, an additional 50,000 new hectares will be required every year during the lifetime of the CAP. These are our targets for organic conversion for the years up to 2027, while supports for 2030 will be a matter for a future CAP programme.

While it is possible to provide the estimated number of hectares that can be funded, the number of farmers expected to participate in the scheme will obviously depend on the size of the farms that will be the subject of the applications each year.

However, I am confident that the funding provided this year and the proposed funding under the new CAP will be sufficient to allow all eligible applications to be accepted into the Organic Farming Scheme and I would strongly encourage all farmers from every sector to join.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

754. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the allocation related to organics, excepting the organic farm scheme in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the purpose of this funding; the recipient of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12561/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am fully committed to the implementation of the National Organic Strategy 2019-2025 which sets out ambitious growth targets for the sector by aligning it closely with the market opportunities.  The current Programme for Government is committed to aligning Ireland’s organic land area with that of the EU average of 7.5%. 

The Organic Processing Inverstment Grant Scheme provides funding to processors who wish to invest in developing facilities for the processing, preparation, grading, packing and storage of organic products.

The Organic Capital Investment Scheme provides grant aid to farmers for on-farm investments such as upgrades to agricultural buildings, machinery and to facilitate the adoption and application of new technologies. 

The table below outlines the overall allocated budget and expenditure in respect of the Organic Processing Grant and the overall approvals and expenditure in respect of the Organic Capital Investment Grant.  The approvals in respect of the Organic Capital Investment Scheme are demand led and are dependent on the number of applications received.

Additionally, funding has been allocated each year from 2019-2022 for the promotion and development of the Organic sector in Ireland. This allocation includes the subvention payment to the Organic Control Bodies which partially covers the cost of carrying out the annual regulatory organic inspectons.

The table below outlines the budget allocated for the development of the Organic Sector and the expenditure of each programme from 2019-2022.  From 2020 the allocation to Bord Bia has been included in their oveall allocation from my Department.