Relevant Matter
Matters involving public funds
Public Policy Area
Budgetary matters
Period
1 Sep, 2024 to 31 Dec, 2024
Specific Details
Budget 2025 - Horticulture
Intended results
To demonstrate concern at the overall reduction in funding for the horticulture industry in Budget 2025 by almost 25%. Last year, there was funding of €10M for Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector and a further €1.35M for Investment Aid for Innovation and Diversification in Horticulture. This year the combined funding for both schemes is €8.5M.
To highlight that, as part of the Horticulture Strategy, there is an ambition to increase the farm gate value of the sector by 30% to €688 million by the end of 2027. With a 25% reduction in the overall horticulture budget announced, this is becoming increasingly unrealistic.
To highlight that,as part of the budget, it was announced that horticultural growers who planted and declared field grown food crops in 2024 on their Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application will receive the €100/hectare tillage payment. While positive, this level of funding will do little to combat the soaring input costs that growers in these sectors are experiencing.
To stress that over the last three years as outlined in the Teagasc report, combined horticultural inputs have risen by on average 40%. The impact of the increase in the minimum wage in January along with auto enrolment pensions will further erode growers' margins. Notwithstanding the current situation around hugely inflated input costs, the core issues which have always been present in the horticulture sector such as labour and land availability are compounding the seriousness of the situation.
To highlight that the steering group to further the provision of the seasonal work permit scheme is yet to be convened and there is still uncertainty around the roadmap for the General Employment Permit. Labour was cited as a key constraint for any expansion in the National Horticulture Strategy, actions must be taken immediately to further the seasonal work permit scheme and to give clarity on the GEP roadmap.
To emphasise that the horticulture sector needs a Recovery Plan to sustain and build on our grower numbers once more. This sentiment is echoed on the continent with other member states putting such plans in place. With the current environment where food security is to the fore, interventions are required to combat the high input costs and longstanding issues in the horticulture sector.
To seek a meeting with the Minister of State for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to discuss all of these issues.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Niall McCormack IFA Fruit and Vegetable Chair, Niamh Brennan IFA Senior Policy Executive
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Informal communication (6-10)
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Declan O'Rourke
Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Pippa Hackett
Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)