Tillage Sector Dail Éireann — 2025-10-14 ============================================================ Marian Harkin (IND), Sligo-Leitrim I reiterate that the Government wants to grow and develop the tillage sector in the years ahead. It was for this reason that the Food Vision tillage group was established in 2023, to provide a clear roadmap for the sustainable growth and development of the sector, while improving its environmental footprint. I heard what Deputy Ó Súilleabháin said. I am well aware of the challenges that farmers face throughout the country. I agree that the recent period has been challenging for the tillage sector, with ongoing and exceptional market pressures placing significant strain on farm businesses throughout the country. The Minister has said he is acutely aware of the impact these difficulties are having on the tillage sector. As I mentioned in my opening statement, the Minister really wants to see the tillage sector not only recover from recent challenges but to grow and thrive in the years ahead. The Government has responded decisively to the recent challenges experienced by the sector through targeted supports, and has delivered significant additional funding in recent years to stabilise and encourage growth in the sector. In addition, budget 2026 provides a core package of at least €50 million to help farmers recover from this year's market challenges. The Minister wants to assure the House that he will continue to work closely with the tillage sector and continue to provide targeted supports wherever possible, recognising its vital contribution and strategic importance in the wider agricultural and agrifood industries. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-10-14/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:04+00:00 Sitting date: 2025-10-14