Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department continues to support the horticulture industry in Ireland with a range of initiatives.

The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Horticulture Sector is intended to assist in the development of the horticulture sector by grant aiding capital investments in specialised plant and equipment, as well as technology adoption specific to commercial horticulture production. I recently secured €10 million for the 2024 Scheme which is due to open shortly for applications.

The EU funded Producer Organisation Scheme for Fruit and Vegetables, administered by my Department, provides an invaluable support to the horticulture sector. The Scheme delivered €4.2 million in aid in 2022 and similar levels of aid will be payable for 2023 activities.

Recognising the challenges currently facing the horticulture sector, I secured €2.382 million in funding under the EU Agricultural Reserve. The Horticulture Crisis Fund is open for applications until 8 November 2023. It targets the horticulture sub-sectors most at risk due to losses incurred as a result of a combination of high input prices, low output prices and reduced yield. The field vegetable sector is one of the horticulture sub-sectors included in this scheme, which provides a once-off payment to eligible applicants. The scheme seeks to ensure the short-term security and thus the long-term viability of growers in the sub-sectors supported.

Earlier this year, together with my colleague, Minister Pippa Hackett, I launched the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027. The stakeholder led Strategy sets down a clear vision to grow a more profitable, value-added sector, driven by innovation and sustainability and provides a roadmap for the sector to achieve this potential.

I am committed to seeing this sector grow and flourish in the years ahead and my Department, together with stakeholders, are working collaboratively to progress all actions in the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am acutely aware and fully appreciate the many challenges that horticulture growers have experienced in 2023 as a result of continued high costs of production and reduced output prices. These challenges were further compounded by the unfavourable weather conditions throughout the 2023 growing season.

In recognition of these challenges I secured €2.382 million under the EU Agricultural Reserve for the horticulture sector. The Horticulture Crisis Fund is now open for applications until 8 November 2023. The horticulture sub-sectors included in this scheme are field vegetables (excluding potatoes), high-wire glasshouse grown tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, brown mushrooms, field grown salad crops, energy reliant protected crops (heated strawberries and vertically grown greens) and apples. The Scheme will provide a once-off payment to eligible applicants. The scheme seeks to ensure the short-term security and thus the long-term viability of growers in these sub-sectors.

My Department continues to support the horticulture industry in Ireland with a range of initiatives including the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Horticulture Sector. I secured €10 million in the recent Budget for the 2024 Scheme which is due to open shortly for applications.

The EU funded Producer Organisation Scheme for Fruit and Vegetables, administered by my Department, provides an invaluable support to the horticulture sector. The Scheme delivered €4.2 million in aid in 2022 and similar levels of aid will be payable for 2023 activities.

Earlier this year, together with my colleague, Minister Pippa Hackett, I launched the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027. The stakeholder led Strategy sets down a clear vision to grow a more profitable, value-added sector, driven by innovation and sustainability and provides a roadmap for the sector to achieve this potential. I am committed to seeing this sector grow and flourish in the years ahead and my Department, together with stakeholders, are working collaboratively to progress all actions in this strategy.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a range of significant supports to the sector which facilitate and support an increase in the production of vegetables.

Recently, I secured €10 million in Budget 2024 for the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Horticulture Sector. This scheme is expected to open shortly for applications and will support investments across the horticulture sector, including vegetable production. The Scheme provides capital grant aid at a rate of up to 40% on all approved investments, with qualifying young farmers receiving up to 50% grant aid.

The EU funded Producer Organisation Scheme for Fruit and Vegetables, administered by my Department, provides an invaluable support to the horticulture sector, including vegetable producers. The Scheme delivered €4.2 million in aid in 2022 and similar levels of aid will be payable for 2023 activities.

Recognising the challenges currently facing the horticulture sector, I secured €2.382 million in funding under the EU Agricultural Reserve. The Horticulture Crisis Fund is open for applications until 8 November 2023. It targets the horticulture sub-sectors most at risk due to losses incurred as a result of a combination of high input prices, low output prices and reduced yield. The field vegetable sector is one of the horticulture sub-sectors included in this scheme, which provides a once-off payment to eligible applicants.

Earlier this year, together with my colleague, Minister Pippa Hackett, I launched the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027. The stakeholder led Strategy sets down a clear vision to grow a more profitable, value-added sector, driven by innovation and sustainability and provides a roadmap for the sector to achieve this potential. I am committed to seeing this sector grow and flourish in the years ahead and my Department, together with stakeholders, are working collaboratively to progress all actions in this strategy.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department continues to support the horticulture industry in Ireland with a range of initiatives.

The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Horticulture Sector is intended to assist in the development of the horticulture sector by grant aiding capital investments in specialised plant and equipment including renewable energy, as well as technology adoption specific to commercial horticulture production. The Scheme provides capital grant aid at a rate of up to 40% to all approved investments with qualifying young farmers receiving up to 50% grant aid. The 2024 Scheme has a budget of €10 million and is due to open shortly for applications.

The EU funded Producer Organisation scheme for fruit and vegetables, administered by my Department, provides an invaluable support to the horticulture sector. The Scheme delivered €4.2 million in aid in 2022 and similar levels of aid will be payable for 2023 activities.

Recognising the challenges currently facing the horticulture sector, I recently secured €2.382 million in funding under the EU Agricultural Reserve. The Horticulture Crisis Fund is open for applications until 8 November 2023. It targets the horticulture sub-sectors most at risk due to losses incurred as a result of a combination of high input prices, low output prices and reduced yield. The field vegetable sector is one of the horticulture sub-sectors included in this scheme, which provides a once-off payment to eligible applicants. The scheme seeks to ensure the short-term security and thus the long-term viability of growers in the sub-sectors supported.

Earlier this year, together with my colleague, Minister Pippa Hackett, I launched the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027. The stakeholder led Strategy sets down a clear vision to grow a more profitable, value-added sector, driven by innovation and sustainability and provides a roadmap for the sector to achieve this potential. I am committed to seeing this sector grow and flourish in the years ahead and my Department, together with stakeholders, are working collaboratively to progress all actions in this strategy.