Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The tillage sector is an important and integral component of the agrifood industry making a significant and valued contribution to the Irish economy. Tillage farming delivers a wide range of environmental benefits for Ireland through nitrogen fixing crops, reduction in imported feed and carbon sequestration. In recognition of these benefits, my Department through the Cap Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 provides supports for two dedicated tillage Interventions namely Protein Aid and the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM).

The Protein Aid Scheme provided for an increased budget, compared to the previous CAP, of €7 million annually over the duration of the CSP. However, as the number of hectares sown to protein crops in 2023 increased by over 50%, an additional once off budget adjustment of €3.1 million in funding above the already increased annual budget of €7 million was provided for, bringing the total Protein Aid budget in 2023 to €10.1 million.

The Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) also experienced an increased rate of participation by tillage farmers in 2023, which saw total expenditure under the scheme realising some €16.5 million.

The Protein Aid and SIM budgets have reverted to the original CSP budgets of €7 million and €10 million respectively for 2024.

In response to the aggression in the Ukraine, my Department introduced a Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS) in 2022 worth in the region of €20 million over the two years of the scheme. The 2023 scheme provided for a payment for the maintenance of areas converted in 2022, in addition to payment for newly converted area. TIS 2023 provided €8.3 million in expenditure. In 2024, €1 million has been allocated for a TIS maintenance payment.

Notwithstanding these supports, 2023 proved a challenging year for the tillage sector. The sector experienced significant difficulties from high costs of production, reduced output prices, reduced yields and very difficult weather conditions. In recognition of this, my Department secured through the EU Agricultural Reserve an allocation of €7.147 million for the tillage sector, and supplemented this with a corresponding amount from National Exchequer funding. This aggregate amount of €14.3 million provided a top-up payment to all tillage farmers and supported an Unharvested Crop Support Scheme for those who were unable to harvest their cereal crops due to wet weather.

Outside of these direct tillage supports, tillage farmers are also eligible to access funding under specific TAMS measures as well as the standard area-based payments that operate under the CAP such as the Basic income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and ECO schemes, along with ACRES.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested is not readily available and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.