Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2026
303. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether a national tillage sustainability support scheme is under consideration in light of increased input costs, particularly fuel and fertiliser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27540/26]
View answerThis Government recognises the exceptional pressure that rising input costs are placing on our farmers and contractors.
I recently announced a comprehensive €100 million Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers. The payments will cover the months of March up to the end of July which coincides with peak fuel usage on farms.
The scheme will provide €20 million per month in supports, with funding directly linked to fuel usage last year to ensure those most impacted by the fuel price increase receive the greatest assistance.
This targeted and practical support package ensures that those most exposed to these increases, including tillage farmers and contractors working with tillage farmers will receive meaningful assistance at the most critical time of year.
In addition to the fuel subsidy supports, I am providing significant support to growers in 2026 totalling some €50m through the new National Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme, the Straw Incorporation Measure and Protein Aid schemes. Funding of €30m for the new National Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme is new funding I secured in Budget 2026, with payments under the Scheme being made last month. These supports are delivered alongside the farming for Water EIP, the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme, ACRES and the Organic Farming Scheme. These schemes will play an important role in underpinning tillage farm incomes and will provide a strong foundation for protecting the future of tillage farming in Ireland.
In addition, a range of additional initiatives are being implemented arising from the recommendations in the Food Vision Tillage Report. These are aimed at achieving greater recognition of the sustainability of Irish grain and developing new value-added opportunities across the supply chain which are important to ensure the long-term viability of the sector.
I will continue to work with the tillage sector given the strategic importance of the sector within the wider agri-food sector.
