Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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604. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he envisages the need for supports for farmers and Irish food producers in the event of the introduction or increase of tariffs on the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13380/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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As a small, open exporting economy, Ireland is sensitive to any change in global trading conditions. Therefore, any imposition of tariffs by the U.S. authorities will if enacted have the potential to pose significant challenges for Irish exporters of agri-food products to the US. This is of particular concern as the US is the second largest market for Irish agri-food exports after the UK with exports last year valued at almost €2 billion.

Ireland and the European Union want to avoid a series of escalating tit-for tat tariffs. Ireland’s view on tariffs is clear: they are economically counterproductive and would disrupt deeply integrated transatlantic supply chains.

My Department continues to work in close coordination with the European Union, other Irish Government Departments and industry stakeholders to fully understand the potential impacts. I participated in a meeing of the Government Trade Forum chaired by the Tánaiste last week to discuss these issues.

Our reaction to any tariffs will be motivated by protecting the interests of European and Irish businesses, workers and consumers from unjustified measures. In relation to Irish food and drink sector concerns, while engagement on trade issues takes place between the EU Commission and the US, I can assure you that the Commission is aware of Irish concerns and those of other member states.

I urge stakeholders to engage with the EU public consultation process currently underway in relation to possible countermeasures.

I will lead a trade mission to the US in April, travelling to Washington DC, and other locations, to meet with US Government officials, State legislators, and private companies where I will promote the importance of this trading relationship.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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605. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the efforts to support generational transfer of Irish farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13381/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The new Programme for Government acknowledges the importance of this issue and prioritises “supporting inter-generational farm succession”. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, states that generational renewal in farming is critically important to ensure the future viability and social sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector and of rural Ireland.

Demographic challenges for the agricultural sector are not unique to Ireland and the challenge of attracting young people into a career in farming is widely recognised, both at national and EU level, including in the recent EU Commission Vision for Agriculture and Food.

Under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027, I am providing substantial investment in achieving generational renewal and measures include:

• A Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers’ Scheme, to help young farmers establish their farming businesses. Payments under 2024 CISYF commenced in early December 2024. To date payments totalling €35.6 million have issued.
• The National Reserve 2023-2027 provides support to two priority categories of Young Farmer and New Farmer. Payments of some €3.1 million have issued in respect of the 2024 scheme.
• Additionally, under the TAMS capital investment measure, a higher grant rate of 60% for qualified young farmers continues to be available.
• A Collaborative Farming Grant Scheme to provide financial support to encourage farmers to form partnerships with young, trained farmers.
• The Succession Planning Advice Grant provides financial support towards the costs incurred for independent legal and financial advice for older farmers about succession planning.

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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606. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding or supports available to new farmers starting out in mushroom production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13442/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I am providing a range of supports to the Irish mushroom sector, an important sector that makes a significant contribution to the rural economy.

The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector provides grant aid towards capital investments in specialised plant and equipment including renewable energy, as well as technology adoption specific to commercial horticulture production. This Scheme is 100% funded by this Government. Mushroom producers and new producers are eligible to apply for this scheme and those that applied for the 2025 scheme will receive their letters of notification shortly.

The 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for Innovation and Diversification in Horticulture (Feasibility/Desk Studies) and the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for Innovation and Diversification in Horticulture (Capital Investments) are designed to assist in increasing innovation and diversification among primary producers in the horticulture sector including the mushroom sub sector. Mushroom producers that applied for these schemes will be notified in the coming weeks.

Mushroom growers are also eligible for supports under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. The EU funded Producer Organisation Scheme for Fruit and Vegetables provides an invaluable support to the mushroom sector. A large percentage of Ireland’s five Producer Organisation Scheme members are mushroom producers and can avail of significant financial supports across a range of measures. This scheme is for current producers but it is something that should certainly be considered by new farmers starting out in mushroom production.

The National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 sets down a clear vision to grow a more profitable, value-added sector, driven by innovation and sustainability and provides a road map for the sector to achieve this potential. I am committed to seeing this sector, grow and flourish in the years ahead and my Department is working collaboratively with stakeholders to progress all key strategic actions in the National Strategy for Horticulture.