Written Answers Nos. 767-800
767. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a list of existing Special Areas of Conservation or Special Protection Areas where bottom trawling has been excluded, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71461/25]
View answerAs Minister of State for Fisheries, I am responsible for ensuring that sea-fishing and aquaculture activities are conducted in a manner that avoids the deterioration of designated features of Natura 2000 conservation sites or the significant disturbance of protected species within those sites. The fishing sector in particular is highly dependent on a healthy marine environment, and its own environmental impacts, where relevant, need to be managed in an appropriate manner.
The majority of the marine Natura 2000 sites in Ireland are inshore, within six nautical miles. It is important to note that Natura 2000 sites can include a variety of habitats and species, each with varying sensitivities and in respect of introducing measures to manage sea-fisheries, regard must be had to the specific conservation objectives set out for each habitat and species within those sites.
I provide below in tabular form a list of the existing Natura 2000 sites (Special Areas of Conservation or Special Protection Areas) where bottom trawling has been restricted.
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List of existing Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas where bottom trawling has been either partially or wholly restricted |
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NW Porcupine Bank Canyon SAC |
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Belgica mound province SAC |
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Hovland mound Province SAC |
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SW Porcupine Bank SAC |
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Porcupine Bank canyon SAC |
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Southern canyons SAC |
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Dundalk Bay SAC |
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Dundalk Bay SPA |
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Roaringwater Bay |
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Hook Head SAC |
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Saltee Is SAC |
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A series of appropriate assessments and risk assessments have been undertaken by my Department in conjunction with the Marine Institute over the years with regard to sea-fishing activities in or near Natura 2000 sites. Mitigation measures have been introduced to manage the potential risks posed to the sites in question. The Deputy may wish to refer to the Fisheries Natura Declarations published online at: gov.ie - Inshore Fisheries Management (www.gov.ie) for further information.
768. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers which applied for the long established young farmer scheme; the number of farmers approved; the refused; and the average payment per farmer. [71499/25]
View answerThere were 1,254 applications submitted under the scheme to support Long Established Young Farmers by the closing date. Following processing of applications 445 were approved for payment. Of the applications submitted 809 were deemed ineligible. Each successful applicant received the maximum payment of €5,000 as provided for under the Terms and Conditions of the scheme.
769. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department's Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71632/25]
View answerThe new Programme for Government, “Securing Ireland's Future”, was published in January 2025. Of the 122 actions in the Agriculture and Food, and the Fisheries and Marine sections, my Department was identified as the lead organisation for 105 of these. As of December 2025, 33% of the actions are either ‘Target achieved’ or ‘Substantial action undertaken & ongoing’, with another 61% reported as ‘Action commenced & progressing’.
The table below provides a status overview of these actions, at December 2025.
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Action Status |
Number of Actions |
% of Actions |
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Total actions where DAFM is the lead Department |
105 |
|
|
Target achieved |
5 |
5 |
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Substantial action undertaken and ongoing |
30 |
28 |
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Action commenced and progressing |
64 |
61 |
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Action not yet commenced |
6 |
6
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Some of the main achievements since January 2025 include:
• Continued Government support for farmers under the €9.8 billion CAP Strategic Plan and via specific sectoral supports.
• Preparations for a new round of CAP post-2027 have commenced.
• Ireland has secured the continued availability of the Nitrates Derogation for a further three years.
• Ongoing implementation of Food Vision 2030, our shared stakeholder-led strategy for the continuing development of the agri-food sector, including progress across the dairy, beef & sheepmeat, tillage, horticulture, organics forestry and fishery sectors. A new dashboard to track economic, environmental and social progress has been launched. A mid-term review of Food Vision has also been announced.
• The launch of the Bovine TB Action Plan.
• Ongoing market access work, including the opening of the Thai market for Irish beef exports, a priority export market for the beef sector.
• The publication of the Report of the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming.
• The re-establishment of a dedicated Minister of State for Fisheries and Marine issues.
• The allocation of €27.75 million for capital projects in Ireland’s publicly owned harbours through the 2025 Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.
• The signing of a €105 million Partnership Agreement with the World Food Programme, the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, over the period 2025 to 2027.
• The launch of Phase 2 of the €26.2 million VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre and the launch of DAFM’s €30 million Thematic Research Call 2025.
• The allocation of €17.8 million to eleven new projects on the theme of environmental sustainability, under the European Innovation Partnership measure of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
• The opening of the National Centre for Brewing and Distilling in Oakpark, Teagasc, which has been allocated funding of €2.3 million by DAFM since 2020.
• The establishment of the One Health Oversight Committee.
I will continue to lead the development of agri-food in collaboration with the sector and to deliver on our Programme for Government commitments.
770. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views that the development of Marine Protection Areas should be based on the principle of co-creation whereby all relevant stakeholders are involved in the designation process from the earliest possible stage, as recommended by the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage in their Report on the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023. [71678/25]
View answerThe designation of Marine Protected Areas is a matter for the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.
771. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of WTE qualified veterinary surgeons employed by his Department in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [71695/25]
View answerMy Department is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its priority business needs. Workforce planning processes are utilised to identify our requirements across all our grade streams and locations, aiming to ensure a long-term, proactive and strategic plan by which current and future staffing needs are addressed.
My Department does not have a specific grade regarding a 'Veterinary Surgeon'. The table below outlines the number of Veterinary Inspectors and Superintending Veterinary Inspectors for 8/12/2024 and latest available data from 07/12/2025 in tabular form:
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Grade Description |
08/12/2024 |
07/12/2025 |
|
Superintending Veterinary Inspector |
53 |
53 |
|
Veterinary Inspector |
267 |
308 |
772. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to review the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 in view of the recent appearance of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs where the authority was unable to answer questions posed due to the said Act; if he is aware that this Act has never been subject to review or overhaul and is dated in approach in comparison to other member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71724/25]
View answerThe Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) was established under the provisions of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006.
Section 42 of the Act provides that “…the Authority shall be independent in the exercise of its functions”.
In particular, it should be noted that the monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are law enforcement matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the 2006 Act, all operational matters concerning sea fisheries control are, as a matter of law, exclusively for the SFPA and the Naval Service. Under the Act, I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational matters in relation to sea fisheries control.
Section 68 of the 2006 Act provides for the accountability of the SFPA to Committees of the Oireachtas generally. In particular, section 68(2) provides that “From time to time, and whenever so requested, the Authority shall account for the performance of the functions of the Authority to a Committee of one or both Houses of the Oireachtas and shall have regard to any recommendations of such Committee relevant to its functions”.
However, section 68(3) provides that in carrying out its duties under this section, the Authority shall not:-
"(a) question or express an opinion on the merits of any policy of the Government or a Minister of the Government or on the merits of the objectives of such a policy,
(b) provide information that might facilitate the commission of an offence, prejudice a criminal investigation or jeopardise the safety of any person, or
(c) be required to account to a Committee for any matter which is or has been or may at a future time be the subject of proceedings before a court or tribunal in the State."
773. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that have attended each race night at Shelbourne Park Stadium during the months of September, October and November 2025; the number of WTE staff by job title employed by GRI that were working at each of those race nights, in tabular form. [71771/25]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body established under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to that body for direct reply.
774. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the enactment of the Native Irish Honeybee Bill 2021 to ensure the protection of native species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71810/25]
View answerThe Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021 which is a Private Members Bill is currently before Dáil Éireann, Second Stage. The Bill seeks to ban the importation of non native honey bees. Progression of the Bill through Dáil Éireann is subject to the procedures of the Oireachtas.
When the Bill was proceeding through the Seanad my Department raised some concerns in relation to imposing a statutory ban on the importation of non-native honey bees as it could constitute a restriction on trade under EU Regulations.
Following advice received from the Office of the Attorney General, my Department procured independent scientific evidence and in October 2023, a 12 month contract was signed with the National University of Ireland, Galway for the provision of research services on the native Irish honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera).
The research work concluded in December 2024, and the research report was subsequently evaluated by an external expert. Following the completion of the evaluation the research service provider (NUIG) was afforded the opportunity to respond to the evaluator’s comments. This process has recently concluded and is under consideration.
785. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department holds, or has sought from an organisation (details supplied) or any market-monitoring source, data on the price differential paid for four and five star rams that meet Sheep Improvement Scheme eligibility criteria compared with two and three star rams in the years 2023, 2024 and 2025; and if so, to provide those average price differentials for pedigree sales and commercial market sales; and if not, to confirm whether claims of increased breeder profitability arising from four and five star-rated rams are being made in the absence of verifiable market evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71875/25]
View answerMarket data on the price differential for different rams. has not been collected by my Department nor has the data been sought from the named organisation or any other marketing source. My Department is not responsible for any claims concerning this matter.
786. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has assessed whether the standard service contract and terms and conditions used by an organisation which assign all intellectual-property and data rights to the organisation, allows the restriction on breeders’ access to performance data and genetic-evaluation results for their own animals, allow unilateral termination of evaluation services, and lack an effective opt-out or purpose-limitation clause for data-originators, comply with regulations (details supplied); if he considers the current contracts incompatible; the amendments or regulatory measures which will be required to secure breeders’ access to evaluation results and preserve their data rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71876/25]
View answer788. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any breeder or breed society wishing to operate their own recognised breeding programme in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 is required, in practice, to enrol in an organisations - national breeding programme (details supplied) and to comply with contractual terms and operational rules set by the organisation which are not contained in, nor approved as part of the stated rules of procedure and breeding programme of that breeder or breed society; and if so, whether this requirement is compatible with the autonomy of breeders and breed societies guaranteed under Article 13/14 of the regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71878/25]
View answer790. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he considers that, prior to approving or designating a third party under Article 27 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 to operate performance recording and genetic evaluation services on behalf of breeders, there should be a clear demonstration that such a body can provide the full range of services necessary to ensure breeders and breed societies retain genuine freedom of choice and autonomy over the objectives, structure and operation of their breeding programmes, as protected under article 14 of that regulation; and whether he is satisfied that the currently designated bodies provide sufficient options to respect this autonomy in practice, including where breeders seek alternative trait priorities or breed-specific selection strategies outside the national centrally-designed indices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71880/25]
View answer791. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that, in circumstances where breed societies in Ireland effectively have only a single designated third-party provider of performance recording and genetic-evaluation services, those societies many with limited legal and financial resources are not placed at a disadvantage that could compel them to accept contractual terms or data-use conditions that may not be in the best interests of their breeders, their breed, or their breeding-programme objectives; the steps he will take to ensure that such contractual arrangements remain fair, proportionate, and fully aligned with the rights set out in regulation (EU) 2016/1012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71881/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 786, 788, 790 and 791 together.
The Animal Breeding Regulations (Regulation (EU) 2016/1012) includes rules for the recognition of breed societies and breeding operations and approval of their breeding programmes. Each recognised breed society is required to submit a breeding programme for their specific breed for approval by my Department.
A breeding programme may be approved in accordance with Article 8(3) of the Regulations. In accordance with Article 27 (1) of the Regulations, a breed society may carry out performance testing or genetic evaluations themselves or contract a competent third party to carry out these activities or their behalf.
Whether or not these activities are contracted to a third party is entirely a matter for the breed society or breeding operation. The criteria for approval of a breeding programme by my Department provides for either option. Any service contract agreement and the respective terms and conditions between the named organisation and a breed society is a matter for those concerned parties, once both parties comply with the applicable requirements of the Regulations.
Articles 13 and 14 of this Regulation concerns the rights and obligations of breeders, breed societies and breeding operations. I am satisfied that the designation of a third party is entirely compatable with Articles 13 and 14 of the Regulations. The national breeding programme as referred to is not an approved breeding programme under the Regulations whereas each recognised breed society has their own approved breeding programme.
Article 14 (4) of the Regulations, which deals with the rights and obligations of breed societies and breeding operations, requires breed societies and breeding operations to settle disputes that may arise between a breed society or breeding operation and breeders in the process of carrying out their approved breeding programme. This is an option for any breeders to invoke where they feel a grievance has taken place.
787. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Question No. 714 of 25 November 2025, if his Department has examined an organisations genomic services terms and conditions (October 2025) specifically Clauses 6.1 to 6.4 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71877/25]
View answer789. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the designated third parties operating performance recording and genetic evaluation in Ireland for organisations (details supplied) provide breeders and breed societies with the ability, as required under Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 and Recitals (1), (2) and (10), to autonomously define the objectives and structure of their breeding programmes; if the current reliance on a single centrally-designed terminal index and replacement index, with fixed trait weightings applied uniformly across all breeds, restricts the ability of individual breeds to pursue diverse breeding goals and safeguard hereditary characteristics essential for the preservation of breed identity and genetic diversity; particularly where CAP-funded schemes financially reward the use of animals ranked on these national Herdplus/Lambplus indices, thereby influencing breeding and market decisions toward uniform trait priorities; and, if so, the mechanisms which exist to support breed-specific customisation of breeding objectives and trait emphasis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71879/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 787 and 789 together.
A breed society may be recognised by my Department in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation 2016/1012. A breeding programme may be approved by my Department in accordance with Article 8 of the Regulations. It is a matter for a breed society to decide on their own breeding objectives and to carry out their own performance testing and genetic evaluations or to designate these activities to a third party in accordance with Article 27 of the Regulations.
The EU Code of Conduct on Agricultural Data Sharing by Contractual Agreement is a voluntary code which companies can make a decision to sign up to. My Department has no role in relation to this EU Code of Conduct nor to evaluating if any organisation’s term and conditions are compatible with it. These organisations have their own legal responsibility to comply with data protection law in relation to all data they process.
With regard to CAP funded schemes, all CAP schemes were subject to public and stakeholder consultation prior to their introduction and it is in this context that alternative schemes or measures should be proposed and scrutinised.
792. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Livestock Breeding, Production and Trade Division (LBPTD) of his Department is the designated section responsible for the oversight and approval functions set out in regulation (EU) 2016/1012, including the approval and ongoing monitoring of breeding bodies and breeding programmes in accordance with articles four, eight and 12 of the regulation; the approval, designation and supervision of third parties carrying out performance recording, genetic evaluations or breeding-related activities under Article 27; ensuring compliance with the autonomy and non-discrimination requirements contained in article 14; if not, which section of his Department is responsible for these statutory functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71882/25]
View answer793. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which officials from his Department who are appointed to governance roles within designated third-party breeding organisations such as organisations (details supplied) are able to fulfil their fiduciary duties of independence, impartiality, loyalty to the State, accountability, due care and transparency; the way these officials can remain fully compliant with Article 41(b) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012, which requires that officials performing official controls must be free from conflicts of interest, particularly where they may exercise both regulatory oversight and governance authority over the same organisations; if he will provide details of the structural safeguards, recusal mechanisms, audit trails and reassignment procedures in place to ensure that conflicts of interest cannot arise in the first instance, rather than relying solely on self-declarations after such conflicts have materialised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71883/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 792 and 793 together.
The Division of Livestock Breeding, Production and Trade (LBPT) is the designated section within my Department responsible for the implementation of all aspects of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012.
In accordance with the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, officials complete and submit a Declaration of Conflict of Interest to line management and outline where any conflict or a perceived conflict may be relevant to their position. This also applies to Department officials who are appointed to governance roles within the named organisations. If or when required, mitigating actions will be implemented to deal with any conflict of interest that may arise.
794. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if organisations (details supplied) are legally structured as non-State, independent entities that is, as a co-operative, company limited by guarantee or similar, rather than as public bodies or State-controlled organisations; whether this legal status is the reason that under the domestic transposition of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 he has stated that responsibility for ensuring compliance with the regulation’s requirements rests with individual breed societies or breeding operations rather than his Department or State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71884/25]
View answerThe named organisations are non-State, independent entities rather than public bodies. Compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 obliges the affected entities, including breeders, breed societies and breeding operations to comply with the applicable rules. My Department, as competent authority, has an oversight and enforcement role under the regulation.
795. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his position on the carbon border adjustment mechanism, which is planned to come into effect at the start of 2026, given the impact it will have on fertiliser costs for Irish farmers; if it’s implementation will be going ahead as planned in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71933/25]
View answerThe Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is the EU's initiative to put a fair price on carbon emitted during the production of carbon-intensive goods, including fertiliser, that are entering the EU, and to encourage cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries.
CBAM will move to implementation from the start of 2026, with full implementation expected by 2034. The gradual introduction of the CBAM is aligned with the phase-out of the allocation of free allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to support the decarbonisation of EU industry.
There are no fertilisers manufactured in Ireland, rather fertiliser companies blend a number of imported fertiliser products suitable for agricultural use in Ireland. The imposition of the CBAM levy, combined with the phase-out of the ETS free allowances, will inevitably lead to a rise in fertiliser prices in Ireland, regardless of origin (EU or non-EU).
I raised the issue of CBAM and its likely effect on fertiliser prices at the October and November Agri-Fish Council, where I emphasised the need for clarity on the calculation of the cost of CBAM certificates. I also raised concerns of the impact of CBAM on European agricultural competitiveness and the risks of trade distortion.
The Environmental Protection Agency is the Competent Authority on CBAM and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners are responsible for collection of the levy and also for issues relating to the EU Customs Union which includes Northern Ireland. My Department has been actively engaging with fertiliser stakeholders on CBAM and have facilitated meetings between industry, the EPA and Revenue to assist in preparations for the introduction of CBAM.
My Department will continue to work to provide as much information as possible to both the Irish fertiliser industry and fertiliser users as CBAM rolls out from 1 January 2026.
796. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the Howth Harbour dredging project; the timeframe for the commencement of dredging works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71948/25]
View answerThe need to dredge Howth FHC to ensure its long-term viability as a commercial fishing port, leisure harbour and tourism destination is widely accepted by the industry and the community and has been long recognised as an urgent issue by my Department.
Unfortunately, the project experienced significant delays in obtaining the relevant planning and consents. Planning permission was granted by Fingal County Council in August 2022. A third party subsequently made an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP formerly An Board Pleanála ABP). Progress on this project was delayed by 20 months until a decision which was made in favour of my Department in August 2024.
My Department submitted an application for a waste licence to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in December 2023 in anticipation of the ACP decision. Ideally the EPA assessment would have commenced immediately. However, the application was not scheduled on either the 2024 or 2025 application lists.
I am now pleased to inform the Deputy that I was recently informed by the EPA that that they are now treating the application as a matter of urgency and importance, and the project will be a priority application on their 2026 scheduled application list. Following their decision, the potential timeline for the construction phase of the project is for construction over three budgetary years, subject to funding availability, and national priorities, with actual construction time being 24-34 months.
797. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department abolished the agricultural attache post in London, contrary to his Department’s management board July 2025 decision, and replace it with a more junior grade administrative officer; and the way in which this is this consistent with the UK’s importance as Ireland’s largest agricultural food export market and ongoing post-Brexit regulatory divergence. [71951/25]
View answerMy Department has a network of Counsellors and Attachés who are seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and based in Irish Embassies and Missions in eleven locations around the world. This network works at fostering and maintaining relationships with key decision makers, stakeholders and colleagues in the country/region of their posting. The Counsellors and Attachés also work closely with the Bord Bia overseas team to support trade development efforts in local markets.
The roles of the Attachés are continuously reviewed in line with the strategic priorities for my Department. The UK remains our largest agricultural food export market, and we also have significant imports from the UK. There are long established and mutually beneficial trading relationships between food producers in Ireland and food businesses and retailers in the UK.
With regards to the London Embassy, my Department's representation is led at Counsellor (Principal Officer) level, with additional posts assigned depending on business needs. My Department continues to have ongoing positive engagement at all levels with UK counterparts.
798. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72060/25]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has not used the services of the company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date.
799. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department’s Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72201/25]
View answerThe new Programme for Government, “Securing Ireland's Future”, was published in January 2025. Of the 122 actions in the Agriculture and Food, and the Fisheries and Marine sections, my Department was identified as the lead organisation for 105 of these. As of December 2025, 33% of the actions are either ‘Target achieved’ or ‘Substantial action undertaken & ongoing’, with another 61% reported as ‘Action commenced & progressing’.
The table below provides a status overview of these actions, at December 2025.
|
Action Status |
Number of Actions |
% of Actions |
|
Total actions where DAFM is the lead Department |
105 |
|
|
Target achieved |
5 |
5 |
|
Substantial action undertaken and ongoing |
30 |
28 |
|
Action commenced and progressing |
64 |
61 |
|
Action not yet commenced |
6 |
6
|
Some of the main achievements since January 2025 include:
• Continued Government support for farmers under the €9.8 billion CAP Strategic Plan and via specific sectoral supports.
• Preparations for a new round of CAP post-2027 have commenced.
• Ireland has secured the continued availability of the Nitrates Derogation for a further three years.
• Ongoing implementation of Food Vision 2030, our shared stakeholder-led strategy for the continuing development of the agri-food sector, including progress across the dairy, beef & sheepmeat, tillage, horticulture, organics forestry and fishery sectors. A new dashboard to track economic, environmental and social progress has been launched. A mid-term review of Food Vision has also been announced.
• The launch of the Bovine TB Action Plan.
• Ongoing market access work, including the opening of the Thai market for Irish beef exports, a priority export market for the beef sector.
• The publication of the Report of the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming.
• The re-establishment of a dedicated Minister of State for Fisheries and Marine issues.
• The allocation of €27.75 million for capital projects in Ireland’s publicly owned harbours through the 2025 Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.
• The signing of a €105 million Partnership Agreement with the World Food Programme, the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, over the period 2025 to 2027.
• The launch of Phase 2 of the €26.2 million VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre and the launch of DAFM’s €30 million Thematic Research Call 2025.
• The allocation of €17.8 million to eleven new projects on the theme of environmental sustainability, under the European Innovation Partnership measure of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
• The opening of the National Centre for Brewing and Distilling in Oakpark, Teagasc, which has been allocated funding of €2.3 million by DAFM since 2020.
• The establishment of the One Health Oversight Committee.
I will continue to lead the development of agri-food in collaboration with the sector and to deliver on our Programme for Government commitments.
800. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application for an EIA screening decision will be approved (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72205/25]
View answerMy Department received an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening application, which was submitted by an advisor on behalf of the applicants named in this Parliamentary Question. On examination my Department concluded that the application did not fall under the remit of EIA (Agriculture) Screening.
The permission/consent that the applicants are seeking is an Activity Requiring Consent (ARC) in respect of designated land and which is administered by the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) section of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The applicant's advisor and the NPWS were informed of this decision.
