Opposition parties have launched their 'alternative' budgets ahead of Budget 2022 tomorrow, with proposals ranging from a €300 suckler cow payment to expansion of supports for commercial horticulture.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture Matt Carthy said that Budget 2022 "offers an opportunity to address the imbalances and unfairness that have been the hallmark of Irish agriculture for decades and to finally put family farmers at the centre of agriculture policy".

Deputy Carthy said that if Ireland is serious about protecting both agriculture and the environment, "then Budget 2022 must begin to shift policy".

This shift must be towards one that "directs financial supports to farming families operating in the most sustainable sectors; rigorously pursuing a premiumisation model; addressing market imbalances; facilitating entry of smaller farmers to organic schemes; revitalising farm forestry; and promoting diversification".

Sinn Féin's proposals for Budget 2022 "would result in an increased spend of almost €220 million within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, a 12% increase, bringing the total departmental spend to over €2 billion".

The party's proposals include:

Meanwhile, the Social Democrats said that Budget 2022 should be the budget that makes "significant shifts towards a more sustainable agriculture policy, with sustainable land management and shorter supply chains for farmers and consumers to form the basis of a fair transition for Irish agriculture".

It added that "it is time to stop talking to farmers as if they are the cause of the climate emergency, and instead acknowledge that they are one of the groups that stands to lose most from climate change".

The party's proposals include:

In Aontú's pre-budget submission, it has called for reform of the carbon tax; that any shortfall arising from reduction in the CAP will be made up by the Irish government; and providing a feed-in tariff for the microgeneration of energy.

"Rural Ireland is under siege from a Dublin-centric government. Farmers, fishermen and the elderly couple burning turf are being demonised for their way of life," according to Aontú.

"Post offices and banks across rural Ireland are closing year-on-year. Rural Ireland is withering on the vine, as more and more of its young people leave and the old ways of life die."