The Irish tillage sector has faced devastation with the terrible weather conditions, earlier on in sowing and now in harvesting. In County Wexford alone, there are more than 2,500 acres still left to be harvested. With reduced yields and reduced grain prices, the sector is facing devastation. In all honesty, I cannot welcome the Minister, Deputy McConalogue's announcement yesterday where €28 per hectare or €11.33 per acre will be given as an aid package. Tillage farmers are struggling with a significant increase in input costs from fertiliser and sprays and fuel costs, leaving aside land costs that we are going through. I visited a tillage farm earlier this week to see the devastation that is there with barley just being on the ground, not being able to be harvested or, at best, being salvaged. I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister to look at this sector and to give an increased aid package. Tillage farmers are looking seriously to Government and more is needed.

I thank the Deputy for raising what is a really important issue here. Tillage farmers have had an unprecedented year because they suffered high input costs at the start of the year when sowing and growing crops, they had really poor weather conditions throughout the year and now they are faced with a declining price for their product as well as poor yields. In many respects, it is a perfect storm.

The crisis reserve that the Deputy referred to from yesterday was the best we could do within what was available to us but we are acutely aware of the challenges in the tillage sector. We also have direct aid for protein crops.

We also have strong corporation measures there. Ultimately, we want to work with tillage farmers because we want to see the area grow. We know how challenging this year is. We will continue to work with them into the future.