Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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2181. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will support calls for targeted measures to address rising farm costs, including support for PRSI, trade and energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41681/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department closely monitors the trends in agriculture costs and prices, with the Central Statistics Office producing Agricultural Input and Output Price Indices on a monthly basis.

Data for 2025 shows a continued moderation of agricultural input costs, including energy costs, following the input price peak of 2022. For 2025 to date (January to May), the input price average is 15.7% lower than its full-year 2022 peak and just marginally above full-year 2024 (+0.3%).

In the 12 months to May 2025, the Agricultural Input Price Index rose by just 0.1% while the Agricultural Output Price Index rose by 20.7%, indicating that trading conditions for farmers are continuing to improve.

While Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) does not fall within the remit of my Department, I continue to engage on competitiveness issues on a cross-Government basis, including on the draft Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity.

I continue to promote Irish agri-food trade and market development around the world, including through trade missions, such as my recent visit to the Republic of Korea and Japan. Irish exports of agri-food were a record €19.1 billion in 2024, an increase of 5.4% by value compared to 2023 (€18.1 billion), and an increase of almost 1% on the previous peak level achieved in 2022.

My Department will continue to monitor trends in farm inputs and outputs, and in farm incomes, while we continue to support farmers through the €9.8 billion CAP Strategic Plan and other specific supports, as required.