Minister Heydon notes the significant payment amounts issued in 2025 by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Published on: 29 December 2025
- Last updated on: 29 December 2025
More than €2.18 billion spent supporting rural and coastal communities
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, TD, today welcomed the fact that his Department has issued more than €2.18 billion in payments to farmers and fishers over the course of 2025.
The Minister said:
“My Department manages payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), oversees supports under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the Seafood Development Programme, and administers several nationally funded schemes. These payments provide vital supports for our farmers and fishers, in turn supporting rural and coastal communities, food security and underpinning the economic benefits accruing to the Irish economy from the activities of the agriculture and marine sectors. I am delighted to confirm that these payments amounted to more than €2.18 billion in 2025.”
In terms of payments made to farmers, Minister Heydon stated:
“Understandably, there has been a lot of focus throughout the year on payments made by my Department to farmers. Ireland continues to be one of the earliest to make payments under the CAP within the EU, and to the highest possible number of farmers. I am accordingly very pleased to announce the breadth of payments made by my Department throughout 2025. We will continue to work to issue payments as quickly as possible where they are still due, and I would ask farmers who have outstanding queries to respond to these as soon as possible.”
In terms of the payments to the seafood sector, Minister of State Timmy Dooley continued:
“Through the Seafood Development Programme 2021-2027 and delivered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, my Department has implemented 11 schemes to support the fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors in Ireland. In total up to the end of 2025, these schemes have provided financial support to 1,606 operations around the coastal counties in Ireland amounting to €21.916 million in grant aid.
“In addition, my Department delivers the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Programme which is a phased programme for the infrastructural development of Ireland’s publicly owned Fishery Harbour Centres and includes, on an annual basis limited discretionary funding for small-scale ‘shovel ready’ development and repair of local authority owned harbours, piers and slipways. Just over €26.6 million has been expended in 2025 on this programme.”
Minister Healy-Rae added:
“The investment of some €76 million in forestry shows the commitment my Department has to the sector. These payments, which are made through the most versatile and best-funded National Forestry Programme ever, are helping our farmers transition to a more sustainable future.”
Minister Grealish noted that
“Our International reputation for the provision of safe, sustainable quality agri-food and seafood is only possible through the dedication of our primary producers. This support along with continued investment in Research and Innovation is testament to the Government’s commitment to the sector.”
Minister Heydon concluded:
“The payments made and funds allocated in 2025 show the depth of commitment the Government has to farmers and fishers in Ireland, and to the world-class food they produce in an ever more sustainable way. I look forward to a successful year ahead for Ireland’s farming industry and seafood sector.”
Notes to Editors
Regional breakdown of the payments issued
The EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) is a partnership between society and agriculture that ensures a stable supply of food, safeguards farmers’ income, protects the environment and keeps rural areas vibrant. EU countries implement the CAP at national level with a tailored CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027. Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan is co-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the EU. For more information, visit www.gov.ie/cap
Ireland’s Seafood Development Operational Programme 2021-2027 is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). The Programme is Ireland’s successor seafood development programme to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). It forms Ireland’s principal source of development funding for the seafood sector in the coming years. This fund will build on and ensure continuity of the valuable supports provided to the sector under the EMFF and the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund.
For more information visit, European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021 -2027 - EU Funds