Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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66. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that he is taking to increase the supply of labour for the pig sector; if he intends to enable an increase in the rate to which permits are processed; his views on the introduction of a method to fast-track permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38539/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) has lead responsibility for employment permits. Arising from ongoing engagement with sector stakeholders, my Department is in regular contact with that Department regarding the labour shortages that exist in certain sub-sectors of agri-food.

Granting employment permits is one method for helping to fill labour shortages, although it is considered to be a last resort. In advance of this, the Department of Social Protection are involved in helping employers recruit from the domestic and European labour market. Sectors also need to have appropriate labour attraction and retention policies in place.

In relation to the rate at which permits are processed my understanding is that processing times for general employment permits are significantly shorter now than earlier in the year, and that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment are working to reduce these times even further over the next number of months.

On labour supply more generally, the Food Vision 2030 strategy includes a goal to “Attract and Nurture Diverse and Inclusive Talent”, which includes a number of specific actions aimed at attracting and retaining talent in the agri-food sector. I chair the meetings of the Food Vision 2030 High Level Implementation Committee, which will provide leadership in progressing the missions and actions set out in the Food Vision strategy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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67. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor the cost of farm inputs including fuel and fertilisers with a view to identifying the best way to meet the challenges of issues arising from the war in the Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38478/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The current situation in relation to the cost and availability of farm inputs is a significant concern. Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine led to significant hikes in energy, feed and fertiliser prices and significant concerns around supply chain disruption.

Earlier in the crisis, I established the National Fodder and Food Security Committee to prepare an industry response to the emerging crisis in feed, fodder, fertiliser and other inputs, and to develop contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises. This Group continues to meet and I will continue to engage closely with the sector as we work together on these significant challenges.

Within the Department, I established a Rapid Response Team, chaired by the Secretary General, to actively monitor the impacts on agri-food supply chains and to contribute to the whole of Government response to this crisis.

I launched the 2022 Soils, Nutrients and Fertiliser Campaign at Teagasc’s Ballyhaise College in January in response to the unprecedented fertiliser price levels.

This credible roadmap, which I tasked Teagasc in developing, will help alleviate reduce their dependency on chemical fertiliser in the longer-term. Teagasc has also issued revised advice to farmers on the recommended application amounts of fertilisers for silage fields to reflect the increase in fertiliser price.

Given Ireland’s dependence on imported feed, I announced a package of targeted interventions for the tillage sector and a multi-species sward initiative worth over €12 million to support Irish farmers on 22nd March.

The package supports the growing of additional tillage and protein crops and the establishment of multi-species swards lowering demand for chemical fertiliser. Following on from the package of measures announced in recent months to provide support to Irish farmers, I launched a €56 million Fodder Support Scheme on 15th June 2022.

My Department continues to closely monitor the evolving situation and is actively engaging with the EU Commission, across Government and with industry as this situation unfolds.

As the Deputy is aware, I am committed to supporting our farm families and their businesses through this very challenging period.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that he is taking to mitigate the forecasted grain shortage due to the war in Ukraine and extreme weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38542/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may be aware that I established the National Fodder and Food Security Committee in March of this year.

I tasked the Committee with preparing a multi-sectoral response to identify those issues that will arise for feed, fodder, fertiliser and other inputs as a result of the war in the Ukraine, and to develop contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises.

Central at that time was the announcement of the Targeted Intervention Package which identified three key pillars aimed at supporting Irish families arising both from events in Ukraine and wider global price volatility.

The package seeks to incentivise the planting of additional tillage crops through the Tillage Incentive Scheme and introduces supports to encourage farmers to grow protein crops in 2022. Supporting domestic production of tillage and protein crops is a key mechanism in reducing Ireland’s reliance on imported feed materials.

The Package also included a Multi-Species Sward Initiative and a Red Clover Silage Measure to promote environmentally sustainable methods of farming, and thereby reduce nitrogen fertiliser usage, while maintaining forage yield.

I have also recently launched a €56 million Fodder Support Scheme. This Scheme aims to incentivise farmers, in particular drystock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) for the coming winter to ensure we do not have any animal welfare issue over the coming winter and next spring. The Scheme will have a payment rate of up to €100 per hectare and I hope there will be strong uptake from farmers.

The National Fodder and Food Security Committee will continue to advise me in the coming months on issues relating to the security of supply of fodder for the coming winter.