Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, has announced the launch to the 2023 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Seed Potato and Chipping Potato Sector. Apart from providing aid for the seed potato industry The scheme was extended in 2023 to encompass producers of Irish chipping potatoes.

The 2023 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Seed Potato and Chipping Potato Sector will aid developing capacity in the Irish chipping and chipping potato fields and helps improve the manufacturing, storage and infrastructure for marketing of chipping and chipping potato by offering grants to farmers towards the cost of capital for special equipment and infrastructure. The scheme, which will cost 3.1 million Euros in 2023 will be made possible by the funding provided under Ireland’s allocation to the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund (BAR).

Minister McConalogue stated: “I am delighted to present the launch of this unique EUR3.1 million plan. I’m a staunch advocate of both the seed potato and chipping potato industries. I would like to see this sector develop and grow in the future. The potato industry is royalty, and I’d like to make sure that we will have a strong and vibrant sector over the coming years.”

“The scheme was developed in the light of the issues that the Irish potato sector after the UK’s decision to withdraw from the European Union. The extension of the scheme to encompass Irish chipping potato farmers can help secure the industry’s future and demonstrates my dedication to the growth of this vital business. The scheme will allow those growers with specialized skills to increase their capacity as well as ensure that there is a new attention to the model of local supply.”

Regarding the seeds potatoes, around 4,000t of potatoes that were previously provided from Great Britain, as of 1 January 2021 can cannot be imported to Ireland. Additionally, Ireland imports approximately 64,000 tonnes of potatoes from the UK. The majority of these imported fresh potatoes are utilized by chip shop owner.

Senator Pippa Hackett who is Minister of State in charge of Agriculture, Land Use and Biodiversity with special the responsibility of horticulture her remarks in announcing the scheme, said: “The Horticulture sector is vital to the agricultural industry, and I’m thrilled that the 2023 Plan of Investment Aid for the Seed Potato and Chipping Potato Sector will help in expanding the Irish chipping and seed potato industries. The money provided by the Scheme will be of tremendous for those who grow in chipping and seed potato industries and will help to build their capacities in ensuring the availability of Irish potatoes as well as the displacement of imported potatoes.”