Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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175. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans if appropriate support will be provided to Irish pig farmers who are struggling to maintain their operations as costs rise exponentially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26715/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The continued development of the pigmeat sector is a priority for the Government, given the pivotal role the industry plays in the national economic context. The sector supports approximately 8,000 jobs spanning production, slaughter, processing, feed manufacture and services. I am acutely aware of the challenges pig farmers are facing at present.

In March, I announced the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme (PEPS), with a fund of up to €7 million, for commercial pig farmers. Farmers were able to receive a payment of up to €20,000 per farmer. Over 80% of applications have since been processed for payment. The remaining applications are currently being processed.

On 13th April, I announced the Government's approval for exceptional aid supports of €15.8 million for the pig and horticulture sector, which will be funded from Ireland's envelope of EU exceptional adjustment aid under Commission delegated regulation 2022/467. The approval was for €13 million for the pig sector and €2.8 million for the horticulture sector.

Member States are required to notify the Commission of the measures to be taken before 30th June, and to pay the supports by 30th September 2022. My officials are developing the scheme at present in order to deliver a rapid as possible payment to farm families.

In addition to the two support measures I have just detailed, I have had ongoing discussions with the main banks to discuss the current challenges in the pigmeat sector and the importance of their ongoing support through the current downturn in the business cycle.  The key message to farmers experiencing cashflow difficulties is to engage with the banks as soon as possible to discuss options and that the banks remain committed to supporting their customers in the period ahead.

Separately, I met with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to discuss the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme and the COVID- 19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, both of which are co-financed by my Department. These finance schemes can be used for working capital finance and include features which address the current financial needs of pig farmers.

The financial schemes detailed above are part of a wider package of measures to support the pigmeat sector, including intensified efforts by Bord Bia to promote quality assured Irish pigmeat in the domestic and export markets, with dedicated media advertising campaigns underway nationally, as well as EU-funded pigmeat promotion programmes running in key export markets.

Teagasc has also intensified its dedicated, ongoing advisory supports being provided to pig farmers and is actively engaging with pig farmers to explore the options available to them. 

My Department continues to engage at EU level to ensure a joined-up EU approach to the challenges arising from Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.