Heydon expecting another increase in DAFM budget for 2027
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has set out his stall as negotiations around Budget 2027 get underway.
As previously reported by Agriland, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has been asked to find savings of up to €26 million next year.
It comes as Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers confirmed the levies to be applied to government departments following an overspend in education.
The proposed levy to be applied for DAFM is 1.3%, meaning the department will have to identify savings of €25.6 million for 2027.
Budget
Fine Gael TD William Aird raised concerns about the proposed levy with Minister Heydon when he appeared at the Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine yesterday (Wednesday, June 10).
Minister Heydon said "a levy has been referenced by the Department of Public Expenditure for 2027 on all departments on the basis of an increased allocation that was required for education".
"That figure has been touted to departments in terms of negotiations for next year.
"But I want to be really clear here; I'm going to treat this budget process the same as I treated last year's budget process.
"I have my priorities for this department. I recognise if everything is a priority, nothing is a priority, so I do need to pick and choose the things.
"Last year, I was really clear. I had a TB Action Plan that needed serious resources. I got those resources. That was a priority," he said.
Minister Heydon said he secured a 9% increase in the DAFM budget last year.
"I expect and anticipate to get an increase in this year's budget for next year too," he said.
However, the minister stopped short of outlining his priorities for Budget 2027.
DAFM
Minister Heydon confirmed to Deputy Aird that the levy will not impact this year's DAFM budget.
Deputy Aird asked the minister if Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers wants him "to go in with €27 million less next year to give to the Department of Education".
"As I start my budget negotiations, I have no intention of coming back out with less for next year than I had for this year, all going well.
"If I do, I'll have done a bad job negotiating. I'll try to avoid that happening. But I would say to you, I got a 9% increase last year," Heydon replied.
"I've set the bar high for myself in terms of getting an increase for all of our agri-sectors last year.
"I managed to deliver that increase for TB, protect the higher rate of livestock payments and have a dedicated follow-up for the tillage sector," the minister added.
Deputy Aird told the minister that he would "want a 9% increase in everything".
"We're not going to have a good year in agriculture. The tillage industry at the moment needs extra money, you've the price of milk down, look what's happening with the beef side of it.
"There's nobody making money out of it," he said.
