434. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has assessed the impact of severe weather events, including prolonged rainfall, storms and wind damage, on the horticulture sector since 2023; the estimated financial losses incurred; and the additional supports being considered to improve climate resilience for growers. [54401/26]

The horticulture sector like all other sectors in agriculture is increasingly exposed to the impacts of climate change.  Such changes can and do present difficulties for growers due to extreme weather events impacting negatively on growing conditions, reducing crop yield and/or quality and on occasion crop loss.

My Department closely monitors weather events as they arise, however no specific assessment has been carried out on the impact of severe weather events on the horticulture sector since 2023.

My Department published its new Agriculture, Forestry and Seafood Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan in November 2025. The Adaption Plan has been developed to protect and strengthen the resilience of these sectors in the face of climate change and sets out the Department’s strategy to build resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change across these sectors including horticulture.

National and EU financial supports, via the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector and the Scheme of EU Aid for Producer Organisations in the Fruit and Vegetables Sector (under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027) are hugely important for the horticulture sector as they support horticulture practices around climate mitigation and adaptation.

Last year following the devastating impact of Storm Éowyn on the Irish horticulture sector, my Department announced a targeted reopening of the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector to support growers and assist their businesses to recover from the impact of the storm.

My Department will continue to keep the need for additional measures under review, informed by evidence, ongoing stakeholder engagement and delivery of the actions arising from the new sectoral adaptation plan, ensuring our horticulture sector is well positioned to respond to future climate related challenges.