A fuel support scheme with funding of €2 million has been announced for the specialist horticulture sector.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon made the announcement after co-chairing his first meeting of the Horticulture Industry Forum (HIF) today (Wednesday, May 27).

This forum was previously co-chaired - with a representative of industry - by the minister of state with responsibility for horticulture, but that role is currently vacant following the resignation of Michael Healy-Rae from government.

Minister Heydon said: "The horticulture sector, like other sectors, has its challenges with particular impacts on specialist horticulture growers.

"Recognising these challenges, and following engagement with the sector, I am pleased to inform the forum today that up to €2 million is being made available for a fuel support scheme for growers producing tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms, strawberries and chillies, which are particularly impacted by the recent fuel cost increases," he said.

The scheme is due to open next week and will form part of the €100 million allocated by government for fuel income supports for farmers, fishers and agricultural contractors in response to the Middle East crisis.

Also today, the minister chaired a meeting of the Food Vision 2030 Strategy High-Level Implementation Committee (HLIC).

That meeting reviewed progress on key strategic actions identified in the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027, which was published in June 2023.

Speaking about the role of the horticulture industry to the Food Vision 2030 objectives, Minister Heydon said: "While significant progress has been made on the implementation of the National Strategy for Horticulture, there remains more work to be done by all stakeholders to ensure a more profitable, value-added sector, driven by sustainability and innovation.

"I look forward to working with the Horticulture Industry Forum to drive those actions forward," he added.

Also commenting on the horticulture sector, Teagasc director Frank O'Mara said: "The 18 strong Horticulture Development Team in Teagasc is an important source of expertise and support for the Irish horticulture sector.

"There are a number of exciting developments being led by Teagasc, including the establishment of an Apple Research Orchard, which includes 52 varieties across eight different growing systems," O'Mara added.

"The aim of this programme is to identify apple varieties and growing systems suitable to both the Irish climate and palate to increase domestic apple production and support the substitution of imported fruit," the Teagasc director explained.