2675. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the supports available to horticulture growers under the CAP Strategic Plan; to provide a breakdown for the last five years (2021 to 2025), and 2026 to date, of the amount that was provided to horticultural producers under the producer organisation scheme for fruit and vegetables in each year; the number of applicants; and the number that were successful, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59377/26]

Supports Available to Horticulture Growers under CAP Strategic Plan

- Basic Income Support for Sustainability

The Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme replaced the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). Payment is linked to the number of hectares farmed that qualify for the scheme.

- Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CIS-YF)

The Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (www.gov.ie/en/service/38d46-complementary-income-support-for-young-farmers/) is a payment made to farmers under the age of 40 who are educated in agriculture/horticulture to help them succeed in farming.

- Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS)

Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) is a scheme that is often referred to as “front loading”. CRISS is paid to all active farmers on their first 30 hectares.

- Eco Scheme

The Eco-Scheme aims to reward farmers, from all farming sectors and from different levels of intensity, for undertaking actions that are beneficial to the climate, environment, water quality and biodiversity.

- National Reserve (Young Farmer Category) & National Reserve (New Farmer Category)

The scheme provides income support to young farmers setting up farms. To qualify the young farmer must have a recognised course of education in agriculture/horticulture achieving an award at Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

- Sectoral Intervention in the Fruit and Vegetables Sector

The Fruit and Vegetable PO Scheme (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/services/eu-aid-for-fruit-and-vegetable-producers/) provides EU aid to recognised Producer Organisations operating in fruit and vegetables (excluding potatoes) sector. It aims to improve the bargaining power of producers by becoming part of a larger supply base and improve the sustainability of fruit and vegetables production.

- TAMS

TAMS are a set of schemes which help farmers get supports to build and improve farm buildings and equipment.

- ACRES

ACRES is Ireland's agri-environment climate scheme under Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan. The scheme is a farmer-friendly scheme to help address biodiversity decline while delivering an income support for farm families in Ireland.

- Collaborative Farming Grant

This grant scheme (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/services/collaborative-farming-grant-scheme/) provides financial support aimed at covering part of the legal, advisory and financial services costs of setting up a Registered Farm Partnership.

- Early Stage Support for Producer Organisations Scheme

It aims to support groups of producers to form recognised Producer Organisations across the following seven sectors – beef, sheep, milk, potato, tillage, plant amenity, fruit and vegetables. The scheme (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/services/early-stage-support-for-producer-organisations-scheme/) is designed to support producer organisations in forming and developing their collective bargaining power.

- Organic Farming Scheme

The Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) (www.citizensinformation.ie/en/environment/land/organic-farming-scheme/) provides financial support to farmers to encourage them to produce organic food and aims to reduce the environmental impact of farming.

- European Innovation Partnership Scheme

The scheme funds projects that allow farmers, scientists and other experts to collaborate together to develop new practices that are environmentally friendly and economically sustainable.

Attached table with breakdown for the last five years (2021 to 2025), and 2026 to date, of the amount that was provided to horticultural producers under the Producer Organisation Scheme for Fruit and Vegetables in each year; the number of applicants that were successful.

In addition, my Department administers further financial supports via the NDP Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector and NDP Scheme of Investment Aid for Innovation & Diversification in Horticulture (Capital Investments) to assist growers make important on-farm capital investments to support their competitiveness and long-term sustainability.

The horticulture sector is an important component of our economy and makes a valuable contribution to food production, employment and the wider rural economy. My Department remains committed to supporting the development, competitiveness and long-term sustainability of the Irish Horticulture sector by administering the range of schemes and supports as outlined above.