Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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183. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the general feedback from farmers during his recent visit to County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61308/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I advise the Deputy that I have visited Kerry on a number of occasions since being appointed Minister. The farmers are Kerry are exceptionally dedicated, pioneering and are resourceful. From the dairy stronghold in the north of the county to beef, sheep, pigs, poultry and tillage, Kerry farmers play an important role in the overall success of our agri-food sector.

In 2021, I launched my nationwide CAP consultation tour in Castleisland Mart. This was an excellent meeting with much debate on the future of the CAP. I recently visited Dingle where I met with the West Kerry Dairy Farmers Sustainable Energy Community who are taking an innovative approach to energy efficiency

The issues exercising farmers in Kerry are those affecting farmers all over the country. They are busy with the day to day business of farming, concerned about the price they are receiving for their produce, navigating the new schemes being rolled out under a revised CAP, considering how new Climate Action Plan will affect them and exercised by input cost inflation arising from the Ukraine crisis.

I am supporting these farmers with a significant increase in national co-funding under the new CAP Strategic Plan, through the roll out of schemes such at the €1.5 billion ACRES scheme and a €256 million Organics Scheme, and through the continuation of targeted supports for the beef and sheep sectors. I have also responded in a targeted way to the Ukraine crisis, with schemes valued at more than €90 million supporting those growing tillage and fodder with a €15 million scheme supporting the pig sector. In addition I recently announced an unprecedented investment of €1.3 billion in the forestry sector for which my department is currently seeking State Aid approval at EU level. Between September and year end my department will have issued more than €1.4 billion to Irish farmers.

I am also finalising legislation to establish a Food Regulator to protect food suppliers from unfair trading practices. I will also continue, through Teagasc, to provide support for the research , advice and education that will position farmers to improve competitiveness and sustainability, and to support the work of Bord Bia in marketing Irish food abroad.

The development of the agri sector and the rural economy will continue to be a priority for me, and my department will continue to support farmers in Kerry and across the country in the years to come.