Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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73. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports in place for indoor vegetable growers who rely heavily on electricity and gas to grow their crops. [11800/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am very aware of the increased input costs and other rising costs being faced by all sub-sectors of the horticulture industry, including those in the protected crops sector and the associated challenges that this brings.

In Budget 2023, the Government introduced the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) to support businesses including farmers with increases in their electricity or natural gas costs. This is a Revenue led initiative and I understand that it has been widely welcomed by businesses.

Last year, I introduced the Horticulture Exceptional Payment Scheme (HEPS) to support Irish growers in the horticulture sectors most impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The sub-sectors at most risk and included under the Scheme were commercial growers in the glasshouse high-wire crops, field vegetable, mushroom and apple sectors. HEPS provided €2.8 million in support under the Temporary Crisis Framework for State Aid measures ensuring the short-term security and thus the long-term viability of these sectors.

My Department continues to provide support to growers for investments into energy saving and renewable technology to help counteract the effect of increased energy costs through the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Horticulture Sector and the EU Producer Organisation Scheme for Fruit and Vegetables.

My Department continues to engage with the sector in relation to current challenges.