Fine Gael Delivers Unprecedented Support for Farming Futures in Budget 2025 – O’Shea
New funding in Budget 2025 provides a record €2bn in funding for the farming sector, Fine Gael’s Cork North West General Election Candidate Cllr. John Paul O’Shea has said.
This increased support includes targeted measures for tillage, beef, sheep, and dairy farmers to Cork, ensure they are well-positioned to plan for the future.
Cllr. O’Shea said, “Budget 2025 reflects Fine Gael’s firm commitment to Irish agriculture, one that acknowledges the challenges farmers in Cork face while providing them with the support they need.
“A new tillage scheme will provide €100 per hectare on all sown ground in 2024, offering much-needed support to tillage farmers after a difficult few months.
“If we are to maintain and grow Ireland’s tillage area then we must support farmers who have battled difficult weather conditions over the last 12 months.
“We’re also delivering increased support for suckler farmers, with payments under the National Beef Welfare Scheme to rise from €50 to €75 per calf. Taken with the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Scheme, this will deliver payments of up to €225 per cow in 2025.
“Sheep farmers will also receive a boost, with payments increasing from €20 to €25 per ewe.
“We will also increase funding available under the Dairy Calf Welfare Scheme. Currently a payment of €20 per calf is available and this will be doubled to €40 per calf. I want to see these additional funds going to farmers who rear the calves.
“Furthermore, farmers will benefit from changes to inheritance tax thresholds secured by Fine Gael. This reform is particularly important for family farms, helping to ease the financial burden experienced by many farmers in Cork of passing farms from one generation to the next.
We are also strengthening the protections around agricultural relief to ensure this support goes to genuine farmers, and not wealthy investors.”
Fine Gael’s Minister in the Department of Agriculture Martin Heydon T.D. said: “Fine Gael’s focus in Budget 2025 has been to support farmers and provide them with certainty.
“Additional funds for the suckler, beef, sheep, and tillage sectors will complement the continued rollout of the CAP strategic plan as significant schemes such as ACRES and TAMS 3 bed-in.
