An extra €32 million is being allocated to the Department of Agriculture to increase animal welfare organisation funding and create a new Food Ombudsman.
An Office of National Food Ombudsman is designed “to bring a greater level of transparency” to the food supply chain following the beef protests of 2019.
Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath confirmed a total of €1.85 billion has been allocated for the department which will allow the second phase of the soil sampling programme to go ahead. The soil sampling programme aims to give farmers more information about the quality of soil on their land.
Meanwhile, the Government has stated its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers will be aware of the increase in carbon tax, by €7.59 per tonne, which was outlined in the 2020 Finance Act.
Protests organised by the Irish Farmers’ Association have been held across the country with farmers worried about the Government’s greenhouse gas emission targets. The Government has a target to cut emissions by 51 per cent.
In this week’s Budget speeches, Minister McGrath and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe have allocated €202 million from the carbon tax to support householders improve energy performance.
LSL News.