Financial support for organics

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said he is "fully committed to the development and growth of the organic sector in Ireland, in line with our targets".

He said funding will continue next year to facilitate financial support to these farmers under the Organic Farming Scheme.

"While work is ongoing to plan for the next Organic Farming Scheme under the next CAP, I will be reopening the Organic Processing Scheme early next year to assist the sector in developing market opportunities for organic production."

Today’s budget was the second in the current government’s term.

The package announced today was worth €8.5 billion.

Over €2.3 billion of that has been allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Forestry funding

€93 million in funding to the Department of Agriculture will be used for the Forestry Programme, Reconstitution Scheme, and Ash Dieback Scheme.

Minister of State Niall Collins has said: "I am optimistic that at least 3,000 hectares will be planted in 2027.

"To date this year, 1,680 hectares were planted compared to 2,527 hectares for the full 2025 calendar year."

Funding for various livestock schemes

It has been confirmed in today's budget that there will be €131 million for various livestock schemes in 2027 and the National Genotyping Programme.

Meanwhile, €20 million in funding allocated to the Department of Agriculture will be used for research and development, including the National Biosecurity Strategy to be launched later this year.

'Vote of confidence' in water quality efforts

Dairy Industry Ireland has welcomed the budget announcements today as a "vote of confidence in farmers and the industry’s monumental water quality efforts".

Dairy Industry Ireland director Conor Mulvihill said: "Ireland now has the EU’s biggest collaboration between farmer, industry, and the state on water quality with the ‘Farming for Water’ EIP.

"The announcement of an extra €21.6 million for Water Quality and Biodiversity EIPs is a huge vote of confidence in the efforts that are being made."

Government fails to fund pilot succession scheme

Young farmers have expressed disappointment at government's "failure" to fund a pilot succession scheme.

Macra president Josephine O'Neill said this budget was an "opportunity for government to show real ambition on farm succession, and it has fallen short".

“A pilot succession scheme would have allowed us to develop a practical model for transferring management, responsibility and decision-making to the next generation ahead of the next CAP," she said.

You can read about what succession measures were announced today here.

'Government has listened to tillage farmers'

The Irish Grain Growers' Group (IGGG) has welcomed elements of Budget 2027 and believes it demonstrates that the government is "listening to the concerns being raised" by the Irish tillage sector.

"However, today’s budget does not address the core issue facing Irish tillage farmers - the continued importation of feedstuffs and the resulting imbalance in competitiveness for native Irish grain," the group added.

In case you missed it: New fertiliser scheme confirmed

A new €31 million fertiliser scheme will launch in 2026 to help farmers manage rising fertiliser costs.

Farm organisations had urged the government ahead of Budget 2027 today to put in place new fertiliser supports to help farmers who have been battling high input costs and challenging weather conditions.

Today's confirmation by Minister Chambers comes months after the European Commission first moved to help farmers with fertiliser costs.

You can read more on this here.

Budget 'lacks a coherent plan to delivery anything substantial' for ordinary families

The Social Democrats party has criticised Budget 2027.

It said the government has "chosen spin over substance".

"This government is out of its depth. It is unable to meet the challenges that face ordinary people," the party said.

"They could have been ambitious. They were not."

Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan is speaking now in the Dáil.

ACRES and EIP

ACRES has been allocated €280 million for 2027.

€31.6 million has been allocated to European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs).

Additional funding is being provided to EIPs and in particular the Farming for Water EIP, as a result of the increased engagement with this collaborative effort to improve agriculture-related waterquality.

The scheme provides tailored advice to farmers on measures to improve water quality on their farms and then supports them to make the necessary investments.

€44 million for tillage supports

Funding for tillage supports has been confirmed for 2027.

TAMS funding confirmed

TAMS has been allocated €93.4 million for 2027.

TAMS investment supports competitiveness on Irish farms, generational renewal and supports slurry storage which is a critical component of the Nitrates Derogation.

Budget 'falls short' for rural households

Irish Rural Link (IRL), the national network representing the interests of rural communities, has issued its initial reaction to this afternoon’s Budget 2027 announcement.

While IRL welcomes a number of measures announced this afternoon, it said it is "concerned that they will not go far enough to support low income households in rural communities".

Social protection measures

In total, over €30 billion is to be spent on social protection in 2027, a €2 billion increase on 2026.

Measures announced include: the expansion of the Rural Dweller pilot to 500 places; increases to the top-up on the Community Employment Scheme, Rural Social Scheme and Tús to €35 per week; and a 50% increase in the means disregard for agri-environment schemes to support farmers.

Rural Gardaí

Macra has welcomed the increase in funding for Garda recruitment announced in Budget 2027, recognising the importance of adequate policing resources for communities across Ireland.

Macra said it hopes that a proportion of the additional Gardaí recruited will be deployed to rural areas, in line with its calls for a stronger and more visible Garda presence in rural communities.

"Ensuring rural communities have access to appropriate policing resources is essential to supporting safer, more vibrant places to live and work," Macra said.

Farmers respond to budget announcement

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has responded to Budget 2027.

ICMSA president Denis Drennan said the government and this budget will "regrettably be remembered for fiddling around the margins of issues and doling out penny-packet measures".

This is all the while "completely ignoring the really important issues that get more urgent with every year they are ignored", according to the ICMSA.

Drennan said that the biggest issue in Irish farming right now and for the last decade is the fact that "we are not getting young people to commit to the farming and food production sectors".

TB funding

€142.4 million has been confirmed for TB.

Existing ceilings will increase by €500 for all reactors valued in 2026.

Supporting households with energy costs

Minister Chambers announced a number of measures to support households with their energy costs.

The weekly Fuel Allowance rate is increasing by €5.

The income threshold will increase for the Fuel Allowance for single pensioners from €534 to €641 per week.

The Living Alone Allowance rate will increase by €3 per week.

Opposition responds to Budget 2027 announcement

Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty is now responding to the budget announcement in the Dáil.

Rural supports

In 2027, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht will receive €628 million.

Of this, €208 million will support rural development, while €11 million will support local job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects through the LEADER Programme.

Straw measure

A €4 million increase for the Straw Incorporation Measure has been confirmed for next year, to support the tillage sector and the environment.

Sheep scheme

€22 million has been allocated to the National Sheep Welfare Scheme in 2027.

Water quality

An extra €21.6 million has been announced for Water Quality and Biodiversity European Innovation Partnerships, to improve water quality on farms and support farmers.

Fertiliser

€31 million has been confirmed for a new Fertiliser Scheme, to be launched in 2026 to support farmers in responding to higher fertiliser costs.

Fuel support

The Fuel Income Support Scheme for farmers and agricultural contractors and related horticulture and fisheries schemes are being extended to cover a further five-month period this year at a cost of €31.2 million.

€2.3 billion for DAFM

€2.3 billion will go towards the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine next year, Minister Jack Chambers has confirmed.

Compared to the 2026 allocation, an additional €39 million in current expenditure is being allocated to the department next year.

Tobacco

It was confirmed this afternoon that there will be an increase to the excise duty on a pack of 20 cigarettes by €1, with a pro-rata increase on other tobacco products.

The duty on e-liquid products will increase by 20c per millilitre.

Housing

The Help to Buy scheme will provide further support by increasing the maximum refund a first-time buyer can claim by €5,000, to €35,000, with immediate effect.

Renters

The government said one of its successful incentives to add supply is the Rent-a-Room scheme, and it is building on that in this budget by increasing the tax-free threshold a homeowner can earn from €14,000 to €16,000.

This is aimed at incentivising more people to rent out more rooms within their homes.

The Rent Tax Credit value will be increased by €150, bringing it up to €1,150 for single claimants and €2,300 for couples.

In case you missed it: Excise duty cuts on fuel

Excise duty cuts on fuel are set to continue over the winter and remain in place until the end of next February.

The temporary reduced fuel excise rates, put in place in response to the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on fuel costs, had due to be in place until November.

You can read more on this announcement here.

In case you missed it: Personal tax shake-up and childcare cost changes

Minister Harris has announced a number of taxation changes to "assist families".

There will be an increase in the tax exemption to €20,000 in the Childcare Services Relief scheme.

The government has also removed the limit on the number of children that can be minded under the relief.

You can read more on these here.

Microgeneration

There will be an increase for income tax disregard for microgeneration income received by households who sell electricity back to the grid by €200, from €400 to €600.

Rural pubs

Minister Simon Harris said rural pubs are "at the heart of many local communities, providing a place where families, friends and neighbours can come together".

He has announced €15 million to keep pub doors open.

Over the next number of weeks, Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke and Minister Harris will develop a scheme aiming to assist publicans.

Capital Gains Tax

To encourage entrepreneurship, reward risk and facilitate the scaling-up of home-grown Irish firms, the government said it is reducing the standard rate of Capital Gains Tax from 33% to 31%.

Livestock vaccines

The rate of VAT on respiratory vaccines for livestock is being reduced from 23% to 9%.

Farm safety

The accelerated Wear and Tear Allowance for Farm Safety Equipment is being extended by three years to December 31, 2029.

12 further items are being added to the range of equipment covered by it.

Succession supports

In relation to succession farm partnerships, the three-year holding period for applications made from January 1, 2027 onwards is being removed.

The associated tax credit that is available for five years is being increased, from €5,000 to €10,000, for all succession farm partnerships registered from January 1, 2027.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers is now up to give his budget speech in the Dáil.

Farmer VAT flat rate

The farmer flat rate VAT addition will be increased to 4.8%.

This brings the flat rate addition in line with the current VAT payable by farmers on livestock sold through marts, which is also 4.8%.

New savings account

Minister Harris has announced a new savings account.

Those availing can contribute up to €12,000 each year.

The first €50,000 held in the account will be tax-free.

Accounts will be available from July 1, 2027.

Those choosing to invest will have a broad range of options including shares, bonds, Exchange Traded Funds and other funds.

RZLT

Landowners can avail of another exemption to the Residential Zoned Land Tax in 2027.

Fuel excise

The temporary reduced fuel excise rates that are currently in place until November are being extended.

The reductions will now remain fully in place until February 28, 2027.

Minister Harris said from that point, a gradual restoration of excise will begin in four phases, with full restoration not occurring until June 30, 2027.

This further alleviation is in addition to other measures such as the extension of the enhanced Diesel Rebate Scheme until the end of December 2026, and the extension of the reduced NORA levy until December 31, 2026.

Carbon tax

Carbon tax and home heating oil and gas is being reduced and will not increase again "in the lifetime of this government", Minister Harris said.

"There will be no increase in any form of tax at the pump or in your home during this winter period."

The rate of carbon tax on both kerosene and natural gas is being reduced.

Rates on these products were scheduled to increase twice between now and May 2027, from €63.50 per tonne of CO2 today to €78.50 per tonne by May 1, 2027.

Instead, they will both be reduced to €48.50 per tonne.

Capital Acquisition Tax

Changes have been announced to the Capital Acquisition Tax thresholds, which apply to gifts and inheritances.

These were last increased in 2024.

Minister Harris said he intends to provide further increases to all thresholds.

"I'm increasing the group A threshold from €400,000 to €420,000, the group B threshold from €40,000 to €44,000 and the group C threshold from €20,000 to €22,000."

Tax credits

Each of the main tax credits are being increased, the personal, employee and earned income tax credits by €125.

The home carer tax credit will increase by €100.

Minister Harris said these changes mean that someone earning €50,000 annually will pay over €700 less in income tax and USC next year.

For a couple with two incomes earning €100,000 between them, it will result in €1,500 less in their tax bill.

The entry threshold for the USC 3% band by €1,600, from €28,700 to €30,300.

The employer PRSI threshold will increase from €552 to €600 per week for 2027.

This will represent a saving to businesses on employers PRSI of between €650-€700 per employee below the new threshold, over the course of a year.

Income tax package

Minister Harris has announced a personal income tax package of €1.3 billion.

He has increased the standard rate cut-off point by €2,500 to €46,500 with proportionate increases for married couples and civil partners.

Meanwhile, the minimum wage will rise by 79c to €14.94.

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has now taken to his feet to unveil Budget 2027 in the Dáil.

He starts off by saying that one budget cannot "achieve all the things that the government wants, but it can set us on a trajectory, a way forward".

Ahead of the government’s announcement, Agriland has been catching up with farmers to find out what they’re looking for in Budget 2027.

The Agriland team will keep you up to date throughout the afternoon on the measures announced for farmers, businesses and households.  

Minister Simon Harris has indicated that the budget will provide supports to farmers who are continuing to face soaring fuel and fertiliser costs.

Measures are also expected on key issues such as TB and succession.

Budget 2027 to be unveiled

Good afternoon all, and welcome to our live blog.

Budget day has arrived - with Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris along with Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers to soon unveil the details of the €8.5 billion package in the Dáil.