The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., today announced the opening of applications for the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme (PEPS), an exchequer funded scheme of €7 million to support commercial pig farmers in Ireland
In announcing the measure Minister McConalogue said: “As I have consistently stated, our pig farmers are remarkably resilient, but I am acutely aware of the unprecedented challenges they are facing at present. Irish pig farmers, alongside others across the EU, are currently facing a combination of low prices and extraordinarily high input costs.
"This is why I have moved to put the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme in place and I am thankful to my cabinet colleagues for approving the funding.
"Both Minister Heydon and I have met with the IFA national pigs committee as well as members of the pillar banks and the SBCI as a way of supporting this crucial sector. We will continue to closely engage with the sector, pig farmers and their families in the time ahead."
This scheme is open to commercial pig farmers who have produced more than 200 pigs in the period 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021 inclusive. This includes pigs sent to slaughter, exported or sold commercially from a breeding herd.
Minister McConalogue said "The scheme is an urgent emergency response to allow pig farmers to plan for an adjustment to the new market situation. We will seek to issue payments as rapidly as possible."
The opening date for applications will be today, 7th March 2022 and the closing date will be Sunday 20th March 2022.