Agri-food sector gets €2.9bn in public funds

MORE than €2.9 billion in public funds was used last year to support the agri-food sector, it was confirmed yesterday in the annual report of the Department of Agriculture and Food.

Farm Minister Joe Walsh said farmers received over half of the public expenditure through EU direct payments, which amounted to €1.64 billion, or an average of €13,000 per recipient.

The remainder of the money was spent on other market support mechanisms, disease control and research, training and advisory services. Mr Walsh said this very high level of public expenditure underlined the continuing commitment of the Government.