William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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1140. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is seeking to ring-fence the €32 million paid to the tillage sector as part of Budget 2025 for the next five years, and for Budget 2026 in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30651/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The tillage sector is an integral part of Irish farming and makes a significant contribution to overall agricultural output. This Government recognises the importance of the sector and wants to grow the area under tillage crops in the years ahead. My Department has provided significant direct supports to tillage farmers across a range of initiatives over the past number of years.

In February this year, I announced €32.4 million of payments under the Tillage and Horticulture Support Scheme which was Government’s response to the difficult position tillage and horticultural farmers found themselves in due to exceptionally poor weather and continued high input costs in Spring last year. Supports for 2026 are dependent on the allocation of funding and government approval as part of the budgetary process for Budget 2026 later this year.

I will continue to work with the tillage sector and provide targeted support in line with budgetary allocations given the importance of the sector within the wider agricultural industry, and to deliver on the commitment in the Programme for Government to invest significantly in the tillage sector over the next five years.