Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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230. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the cereal growing sector is adequately supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25524/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The tillage sector is an important and integral component of the agri-food industry making a significant contribution to overall agricultural output estimated at over €1 billion at 2022 farm gate prices.

The importance of the tillage sector is recognised in the Food Vision 2030 strategy and in the Climate Action Plan 2023 where a target is set out to increase the area in tillage to 400,000 hectares. This is well founded given that the sector is one of the most carbon efficient sectors of Irish agriculture.

To help achieve this target, I recently established the Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group which had its first meeting on 11th May 2023. This group brings together all relevant stakeholders to set out a roadmap for the sustainable growth and development of the sector to 2030.

In recent years, I have also introduced several measures to support the tillage sector.

Last year, I introduced the Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS) which contributed to the increase in tillage area of 20,000 hectares or 6% from approximately 320,000 hectares in 2021. Just under €10.1 million was paid out to 3,622 farmers on an area of approximately 25,000 hectares under the Scheme. This Scheme is continuing for 2023 with a budget of €10 million.

I more than doubled the budget for the Protein Aid Scheme from €3 million to €7 million in the CAP Strategic Plan 2023 - 2027.

I also secured the Straw Incorporation Measure as a new measure in the CAP with an annual budget of €10 million. This measure sees farmers earn up to €10,000 for straw chopping and incorporation with associated environmental, climate change and biodiversity benefits. In 2022, just under €11.1 million was paid out to 2,527 farmers on an area of over 50,000 hectares.

Our new Agri-Environmental Scheme (ACRES) includes a broad range of actions that are relevant to tillage famers while the new Tillage Capital Investment Scheme under TAMS contains a broader range of investments and a higher investment ceiling of €90,000.