Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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155. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will provide direct financial assistance to the horticulture sector to compensate for crop damage and income loss post Storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13624/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I am very aware of the devastation caused to the Irish horticulture sector as a result of Storm Éowyn.

My Department officials engaged with Teagasc and other stakeholders to get an assessment of the extent and significance of the damage caused. The information provided by the sector as part of that assessment highlighted significant damage to horticulture infrastructure in particular. In response, I together with my colleague, Minister for State Michael Healy-Rae announced a targeted reopening of the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector, which provides grant aid towards capital investments in specialised plant and equipment including renewable energy, as well as technology adoption specific to commercial horticulture production.

The targeted reopening of the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector was specifically for growers proposing investments in response to the damage caused by Storm Éowyn.

On balance based on all of the information available, support was targeted to alleviate the greatest impact to the sector and to allow growers affected by the storm to submit applications for grant aid to assist in rebuilding their business infrastructure.

My department has provided significant supports to the horticulture sector and remains committed to it. There are currently no plans to introduce any other scheme to the horticulture sector to compensate for crop damage and income loss post-storm Éowyn.