The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) will receive an increase in funding of €32 million euro in Budget 2022.

Minister for Public Expenditure made the announcement in the Dáil today (Tuesday, October 12) as part of the Budget 2022 announcement, which also included statements by Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe.

Minister McGrath told the TDs and ministers: "I'm allocating €1.85 billion for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine next year, an increase of €32 million on the 2021 budget allocation.

The measures are as follows:

The aim of 'Programme A' on Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health and Animal Welfare is to maintain high standards of food safety and animal health and welfare, support for food traceability systems and deliver research, testing and disease eradication activities.

Under this programme, the 2022 allocation will allow the department to:

The aim of this programme is to promote environmentally sustainable farming, including mitigation of climate change, while supporting the rural economy and farm incomes.

Under this programme, the 2022 allocation will allow the department to:

Minister McGrath added that he has been in discussions with Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Charlie McConalogue, in relation to the indicative allocations for the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027.

He said that the agriculture minister is currently finalising the details and will publish them shortly as part of a further public consultation on the plan, which is required to be submitted to the EU Commission by the end of this year.

Minister McGrath continued: "In this context, both the minister and I are conscious of the special position accorded to agriculture in the Programme for Government, and the commitment made in relation to the allocation of carbon tax."

In terms of rural development and communities, Minister McGrath explained that Covid-19 has highlighted the "value of community".

He said: "As we move forward, we must carry this with us and continue to empower and support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.

"To support this, I am allocating €376 million to the Department of Rural and Community Development [DRCD] next year, including an additional €12 million in current expenditure," he added.

€4 million of the additional €12 million will be provided to the SICAP programme targeting groups which are currently under-represented.

This current funding package is being provided alongside a €23 million increase in capital funding for the department next year.