179. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government will draw down funding from the EU fertiliser support plan to provide direct payments to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52274/26]

The European Commission's Fertiliser Action Plan, published on 19 May 2026, aims to improve short-term affordability and availability of fertilisers, strengthen strategic autonomy and domestic resilience over the medium term, and improve transparency and dialogue across the supply chain.

The headline short-term measure is a mechanism to improve liquidity for farmers through the CAP Strategic Plan, while other measures include a higher rate of advance payment for direct payments (increasing from 70% to 75%) and an earlier payment date. These proposals are being considered by my Department.

The European Commission has also proposed emergency financial support for farmers funded through the agricultural crisis reserve, with an indicative allocation of €15.3 million for Ireland. The detailed rules attached to this exceptional aid remain to be clarified by the European Commission, and I will then reflect on the most appropriate way to use this funding.