“This is a difficult time for many across the country, and farm families and farm businesses too are feeling the pressures of the current cost of living crisis. The Government is committed to supporting them through this period of uncertainty over the coming winter and into 2023 - and this budget does that.”

“The budget contains up to €500m in funding specifically ringfenced for agri-environment schemes.”

“In my own areas of responsibility, I am delighted to have secured the largest ever budget for organic farming. Funding for this Scheme has been increased to €37 million - an 80% increase on last year as we work towards our target of tripling the area of land under organic production by the end of 2027. Organic farming delivers for climate, biodiversity, water quality and animal welfare – so I am delighted that the sector now has the financial backing it needs to grow and thrive over the coming years.”

“I’ve also secured increased funding for forestry, so that we can build on the ongoing work to reform our forestry system since this Government took office. This work is by no means finished, and we are currently finalising a new Forest Strategy and a new Forestry Programme for Ireland, which will see supports for a closer to nature model of forestry.”

“We have also secured substantial funding for locally-led environmental schemes, to just under €18m. This will fund a large-scale water quality scheme on farms, as well as a new call for new EIPs in Q1 2023 on biodiversity, climate, rural environment, and farm safety.”

“I am particularly pleased to see a €13.3m Extension of the Farm Environmental Scheme, as well as funding for the Soil Sampling Scheme for another year.”

“This budget supports farm families dealing with the immediate and ongoing fallout of the illegal invasion of Ukraine. It also lays the groundwork for strategic supports for the sector over the next five years, through the new €10 billion CAP Strategic Plan (CSP).

“The Budget delivers large-scale funding to drive the sector’s environmental ambition, helping improve both on-farm sustainability as well as farmer incomes. I have secured up to €500m in 2023 to support farmers in their efforts to tackle the challenges in climate, biodiversity and water quality. This is real money for real farm families. The measures include funding for 30,000 places in a new flagship agri environment scheme, ACRES.

“This is largest ever agri-environment scheme ever run by my Department. Using a habitats-based approach, delivered through both prescription and results-based actions, ACRES will contribute to improving biodiversity, climate, air and water quality outcomes.”

“I am introducing an €8m grant aid scheme to support the spreading of lime as well as an enhanced Multi Species Sward / Red Clover scheme. These will help farmers deal with rising fertiliser prices and move towards the reduction of chemical fertiliser.

“I have also secured an increase in the TAMS budget to €90m, to fund the proposed large-scale investment in on-farm renewables for farmers, subject to the approval of the European Commission. There will be an increase in TAMS funding to €90m, and this will help fund the proposed increase to 60% grant rate and a standalone investment ceiling of €90,000 for solar installation. As an immediate step, farm dwellings are now eligible for inclusion for solar panel investments.”

“The establishment of a renewable heat obligation will be critical to the success of this initiative, and I am working closely in partnership with the Minister for Environment, Climate Action and Communications to realise the potential of this sector.”

“I continue to stand by our beef and sheep farmers. I am pleased to maintain the budget for targeted beef and sheep supports of over €100 million. This funding will help to alleviate the impact of increased input costs; while also supporting animal health and welfare, and further improving the carbon efficiency of our grass-based and quality assured beef and lamb.

“Beef and sheep farmers will also be well placed to benefit from the enhanced supports for fodder aid, for environmental measures and the supports available for farmers transitioning to organic farming.

“I am also excited about seeing the continuation of the €10m Tillage Incentive Scheme in 2023. The tillage sector is one that I believe in and I want to see it grow in the time ahead.”

“Today’s €335m budget announcement for the seafood sector and coastal communities is the largest ever annual budget provision for the sector. Over the past year I have announced a range of schemes worth €225 million, funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, designed to support the seafood sector and coastal communities in overcoming the impact of Brexit. These schemes will run for the remainder of this year and for 2023 and the budget provision that the Government is making today will enable these schemes to be fully delivered. The schemes reflect the recommendations of the Seafood Task Force, which I established, and which are designed to ensure that the seafood sector and coastal communities post Brexit will continue to generate economic growth and sustainable jobs in coastal communities. Having listened to fishing representatives, and at their request, I established an enhanced tie-up scheme worth an extra €12m for this year to help alleviate the marine fuel pressures facing fishers. This Budget will include supports for energy costs for seafood processors.”

“The war in Ukraine has had a major impact on farmers’ production costs, particularly feed, fuel, and fertiliser. Budget 2023 delivers further support to the sector to respond to these challenges and protect food production.

It marks another step on farmers’ climate and environmental journey too. I have strengthened the Department’s research fund to €20m to maintain a steady pipeline of climate solutions for the sector in the coming years as we implement the science and technology that is available to us today.

I have also prioritised extra resources for farm safety, increasing the dedicated budget to €2.5m. In addition to a further rollout of our farmer health and wellbeing programme On Feirm Ground, I intend to focus on getting more physical safety investments onto farms.”

“I am delighted that we could agree a new Accelerated Capital Allowance for Slurry Storage. This will help drive further improvements in slurry storage and management as water quality coupled with improved nutrient-use efficiency and reduce dependence on expensive artificial fertilisers. Ultimately, this will help reduce emissions. This measure is a strong signal of this Government’s commitment to supporting farmers in improving environmental sustainability; and I urge farmers to make use of the three-year window agreed for this initiative, which will be available from 2023 to 2025.”

“We have also agreed on the renewal of vital tax reliefs including Stamp Duty Relief for Young Trained Farmers and Stock Relief. Generational renewal is critical to the future of the agri-food sector and national taxation measures, together with the support available under the CAP, represent a substantial commitment to young farmers.

“I want to continue to facilitate the transfer of land and holdings on to the next generation in a manner than works for all parties. The renewal of Capital Gains Tax Relief for Farm Restructuring and Stamp Duty Relief for Farm Consolidation encourage the consolidation of farm holdings, reducing fragmentation and improving the operation and viability of farms.

“The Government has provided welcome supports in response to the current cost of living crisis. The continuation of the reduction of excise duty on agricultural diesel to nil is merited and will alleviate costs for the sector.”

“Access to finance is a crucial business need and, as well as liaising with the main banks on issues relating to the agri-food sector, I have worked closely with the Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Minister Donohoe on this issue. This partnership has yielded important supports for food businesses, farmers and fishers, through the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), to ensure that they have had access to finance to help deal with the unprecedented challenges which have arisen over recent years.”

“I am happy to announce with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment (DETE) the development of a new long-term lending scheme. This will ensure that there is an appropriate option available to SMEs, including farmers, fishers and food businesses, to access finance for strategic investment purposes. The agri food sector has a demonstrated capacity to plan for the long term even while grappling with more immediate challenges and the new proposed €500 million ‘Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme’ (GSLS) will facilitate strategic investment by farmers, fishers and food businesses which will ensure their continued viability and sustainability into the future.

“We are also working together on a Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme to assist businesses, including farmers, fishers and food businesses in meeting their liquidity and investment needs, especially in this time of economic uncertainty”.

“I am acutely aware of the challenges facing farm families, food businesses and coastal communities at present. We are living in uncertain times, but we need our farm families and fishers producing safe, sustainable, and high-quality food more than ever. I will continue to back them in doing that.”