Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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495. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will adjust the tillage incentive scheme to support current tillage farmers, including the requirement that the land must remain in tillage for at least five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21337/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I introduced the Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS) in 2022, in response to the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The Scheme is a support measure to incentivise an increase in domestic cereal production thereby reducing dependency on imports.

In 2022, just under €10.1 million was paid out to 3,622 farmers on an area of approximately 25,000 hectares under the Scheme. Since its introduction in 2022, the Scheme has proved to be successful and popular with farmers and it is acknowledged as having contributed to the estimated 6% increase in tillage area, or an additional 20,000 hectares in 2022.

I secured funding of €10 million for the continuation of the Scheme in Budget 2023. The Terms and Conditions for TIS 2023 are currently being finalised, however, it is not intended at this point to adjust the Scheme to include a requirement that land must remain in tillage for at least five years.