NEWS

The Minister states: 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. The report of the Food Vision Tillage Group, which was set up set out a roadmap for the growth and development of the sector, identifies opportunities to grow the sector and to further improve its environmental

The Minister states: The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme or ACRES is the flagship environmental scheme provided under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, with €1.5 billion in Exchequer and EU funding allocated over the course of the scheme. There are currently just under 54,000 participants in ACRES. Payments in respect of ACRES continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases pass all required validation checks. A total of €512.2 million has now issued since ACRES payments c

The Minister states: Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. In recent years, bovine TB (bTB) levels have continued to deteriorate. Herd incidence has increased from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024, resulting in a 36% increase in the number of herds restricted between 2022 and 2024. As of 22nd June 2025, over a 12 month period we had a herd incidence of 6.43 % with over 43,455 reactors. This disease is having an impact on our farmers and their families bot

The Minister states: The Programme for Government has committed to introducing planning guidelines for solar farms and to provide certainty in the development of solar energy. Issues regarding planning fall under the remit of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The rights of farmers and other landowners are, of course, subject to the usual Constitutional protections. As Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, I am committed to driving sustainable ag

The Minister states: The independent Agri-Food Regulator established under the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023 performs two key functions: • It enforces the law on Unfair Trading Practices; • It performs a price and market analysis and reporting function. The Regulator has since its establishment at the end of 2023, been very successful in delivering on these functions. On the price and market analysis function, over the last year the Regulator has published welco

The Minister states: The CAP Strategic Plan for 2023 to 2027 aims improve the economic, social and environmental sustainability of Ireland's agri-food sector. It does this by supporting viable farm incomes and enhancing competitiveness, by strengthening the socio-economic fabric of rural areas, and by contributing to the achievement of environmental and climate objectives at national and EU levels. The CAP Strategic Plan or 'CSP' includes 28 different schemes or 'intervention

The Minister States: The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. Overall, the scheme has proved very popular, with an unprecedented level of applications received. The Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme is a measure in TAMS 3, which provides an incentive to farmers to avail of investments to improve their own safety and that of their farm. Thi

The Minister states: The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme or ACRES is the flagship environmental scheme provided under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, with €1.5 billion in Exchequer and EU funding allocated over the course of the scheme. There are currently just under 54,000 participants in ACRES. Payments in respect of ACRES continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases pass all required validation checks. A total of €512.2 million has now issued since ACRES payments c