Written Answers Nos. 779-798
779. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department has taken, or plans to take, in conjunction with Dublin City Council and other relevant agencies, to support the development of a regulated community equine or stables facility in Darndale, similar to the Cherry Orchard Equine Centre model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5561/26]
View answerThe welfare of equines is protected by legislation and I am fully committed to supporting sustainable initiatives in line with the Programme for Government and Working Together for Animal Welfare, Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025, which is currently in the process of being renewed by my Department. As part of this commitment, I continue to support urban horse projects nationwide, working with local authorities, charities and community stakeholders.
These projects have proven very successful and are aimed specifically at equine welfare and marginalised communities. The projects can foster community leadership and education in responsible horse ownership for young people.
Typically, support and arrangements for these projects are provided by the Local Authorities. The funding provided by my Department, is paid through Local Authorities to support these projects and my Department welcomes further submissions, through local authorities, for assistance in the context of the Urban Horse Projects scheme.
780. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the five-year management plan for a cockle fishery (details supplied); the role of the National Parks and Wildlife Service in setting harvest limits; the way in which the requirement to maintain food resources for overwintering birds is balanced with the socioeconomic needs of the 28 licenceholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6585/26]
View answerDundalk Bay contains a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area for birds as part of Ireland's Natura 2000 network. This area is of national and international importance for over 20 species of birds. Specific Conservation Objectives for these bird species have been established by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
I can advise the Deputy that the last Fisheries Natura Plan for cockle (Cerastoderma edule) in Dundalk Bay covered the five-year period from 2021 to 2025. I understand that the cockle fishers in the area are currently preparing a new draft Fisheries Natura Plan for cockle in Dundalk Bay from 2026, with assistance from the marine agencies, and will submit this to my Department in due course.
Once my Department receives the draft Plan on behalf of industry, the Plan would then undergo screening, and potentially require appropriate assessment in order to assess if any relevant fishing activities would be likely to impact on the Conservation Objectives set for the habitats, birds, and other species in this area. The process governing the assessment and consideration of Fisheries Natura Plans is set out in the European Union (Birds and Natural Habitats) (Sea-fisheries) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 290 of 2013).
I can inform the Deputy that scientific advice on the Dundalk Cockle fishery is provided to my Department annually by the Marine Institute. If sufficient biomass (tonnage) of cockles in the Bay is reported following the survey work, a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is advised by the Marine Institute, taking account of the harvest rate rules as may be approved in any forthcoming Fisheries Natura Plan. While NPWS does not set fishing harvest rules or limits, this body does have the opportunity to provide comments and observations as part of the consultation phase associated with any potential appropriate assessment process regarding the draft Fisheries Natura Plan.
Any fishery management measures that may be prescribed following the assessment process would also take account of the ecological requirements as they relate to Dundalk Bay. I am advised that the Marine Institute continues to undertake monitoring and research in respect of the food resources in the area for overwintering birds and can provide further advice on this as needed. I remain aware of the importance that the Dundalk Cockle fishery needs to be operated in a sustainable manner, while carefully considering the balance between environmental protection and the viability of the fishery.
781. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount his Department has spent on legal fees for each of the years 2020-2025, in tabular form. [5529/26]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy when it is available.
|
YEAR
|
AMOUNT PAID (€) |
|
2020 |
1,206,464.89 |
|
2021 |
701,822.82 |
|
2022 |
1,887,306.90 |
|
2023 |
1,080,045.11 |
|
2024 |
861,418.53 |
|
2025 |
825,420.34 |
|
TOTAL: |
6,562,478.59 |
782. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeline for when he expects to receive recommendations regarding dog breeding legislation from the dog control stakeholder group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5576/26]
View answerThe Dog Control Stakeholder Group was established to consider policy and legislative matters, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. The group’s remit includes considering the need for legislative change. I am committed to reviewing all legislation relating to dogs and in this regard will be guided by the recommendations of the group. I expect the group to revert to me with recommendations in Q1, 2026.
783. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a breakdown of expenditure by his Department and bodies, agencies or organisations under his remit on paid verification services on a platform (details supplied) or any other verified account products, for each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of verified accounts held under each category; the annual cost per account; the total annual cost incurred; the procurement basis under which these services were purchased, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5621/26]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has incurred no expenditure on verification or premium accounts on the social media platform detailed or on any other verified account products in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026.
As regards the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
784. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the 11,686 non-coursing greyhounds whose year of birth was 2021 who were being tracked on Rásaíocht Con Éireann's traceability system, RCETS, as of 24 September 2025, giving a detailed breakdown into active, inactive, exported and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5655/26]
View answer785. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the 10,837 non-coursing greyhounds whose year of birth was 2022 who were being tracked on Rásaíocht Con Éireann's traceability system, RCETS, as of 24 September 2025, giving a detailed breakdown into active, inactive, exported and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5656/26]
View answer786. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the 8,104 non-coursing greyhounds whose year of birth was 2023 who were being tracked on Rásaíocht Con Éireann's Traceability System as of 24 September 2025, giving a detailed breakdown into active, inactive, exported and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5657/26]
View answer787. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of the 9,175 non-coursing greyhounds registered at whelping stage in the Irish Coursing Club's Stud Book whose year of birth was 2024, have been entered on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann's Traceability System, giving a detailed breakdown into active, inactive, exported and so on for these dogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5658/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 784 to 786, inclusive, together.
Rásaíocht 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 questions raised by the Deputy are operational matters for RCÉ and, therefore, the questions have been referred to that body for direct reply.
788. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in regard to EU Regulation 2019/6 and cross-Border veterinary trade, the specific co-operative measures his Department is implementing to minimise trade disruptions for Border-based retailers; the way these protections will be codified to ensure the "seamless" trade promised under the Good Friday Agreement, GFA, strand 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5823/26]
View answerUnder EU Regulation 2019/6, matters pertaining to retail of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VMPs) are left to the discretion of national authorities. The national regulations governing retail are the Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulations 2014 S.I. 462/2024. A licensed retailer may only sell the products that they are licensed to sell and a purchaser must meet the conditions of possession and use set out in their own jurisdiction.
789. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in regard to EU Regulation 2019/6 and cross-Border veterinary trade, given Northern Ireland’s alignment with EU rules under the Windsor Framework, the practical steps, derogations or exemptions his Department is exploring to allow Republic of Ireland businesses to continue the legal supply of products to Northern Ireland customers without breaching licensing and distribution rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5824/26]
View answerThe use and distribution of veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) in Ireland is governed by Regulation (EU) 2019/6 and is directly applicable throughout the EU, including Northern Ireland. If Veterinary Medicinal Products have the appropriate marketing authorisation for Northern Ireland or have been granted a Special Import Certificate by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in the UK, there are no restrictions on the movement of these goods from Ireland to Northern Ireland by licensed wholesale distributors who must comply with the conditions of their wholesale distribution authorisation.
790. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in regard to EU Regulation 2019/6 and cross-Border veterinary trade, the specific form of prescription that is legally required for a Northern Ireland resident to purchase antiparasitics in the Republic; the general data protection regulation, GDPR, implications and data-sharing protocols for recording the personal details of Northern Ireland citizens on the Irish NVPS electronic database; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5825/26]
View answerAntiparasitic veterinary medicinal products became prescription-only medicines with effect from 1 December 2025. Anyone purchasing these products from this date require a prescription issued by a registered veterinary practitioner. Veterinary practitioners registered in Ireland must use the National Veterinary Prescription System (NVPS) to prescribe a prescription only medicine, such as an antiparasitic product.
Veterinary practitioners registered solely in Northern Ireland cannot register to use the NVPS, as to register for the NVPS a veterinary practitioner must work in a premises that has a Certificate of Suitability issued by the Veterinary Council of Ireland, which regulates veterinary practices in Ireland.
Northern Ireland veterinary practitioners can prescribe an antiparasitic veterinary medicinal product using a paper prescription and a licensed retail premises in the Ireland can dispense a product on receipt of a paper prescription. These products will not be recorded on the NVPS and records must be kept in line with S.I. 462/2024.
For GDPR concerns in relation to the NVPS, my Department has a Data Protection notice for the NVPS available on the gov.ie website under Data Protection Privacy Notices.
791. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a food trade mission is scheduled for the United Arab Emirates in quarter 1 of 2026. [5840/26]
View answerThis week, my colleague, Minister of State Grealish, is leading a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 26 to 29 January, in collaboration with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland.
The objective of the trade mission is to focus on strengthening government-to-government relationships, supporting Irish companies on the ground, and promoting our safe, sustainably produced agri-food products.
The central focus of this trade mission is Gulfood, the world’s largest food and beverage trade event, which has a total of 14 Irish agri-food companies exhibiting at the event. The Trade Mission includes Government to Government meetings and a number of engagements with key customers and businesses in the dairy, meat, prepared foods, beverages, and the equine sectors. This Trade Mission also builds on the Joint Economic Commission with UAE and recent meetings in December 2025.
Ministerial-led trade missions demonstrate the Government's commitment to trade promotion and supporting the Irish agri-food sector's ambition to develop, consolidate and diversify its footprint on international markets in line with both the Food Vision 2030 strategy and the Government’s Action Plan on Market Diversification.
792. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the current compensation rate of €3,000 paid to farmers for cattle that test positive for TB, given that this figure does not reflect the actual market value in many cases (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5887/26]
View answerBovine TB is an ongoing challenge for Irish farmers. I am acutely aware of the emotional and financial impacts of bovine TB on farmers, their families and rural Ireland.
I welcome the increased budget for bTB in Budget 2026 and I am confident that this will allow the revamped bTB programme to focus on tackling disease levels through the implementation of the measures laid out in the new bTB Action Plan and will support and enable farm families who are currently dealing with the stress of a TB outbreak to navigate a way out of a TB restriction and protect those herds currently free from TB from the stress of a TB outbreak.
The objective of the new measures in the Bovine TB Action Plan is to reduce the number of farms affected by bTB and decrease costs for farmers and the taxpayer.
My Department provides a range of financial supports that focus on compensating farmers for both direct and indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on the farm. The primary support scheme is the On Farm Market Valuation scheme where animals removed as reactors receive compensation subject to scheme ceilings equivalent to their market value in the event they were not disclosed as TB reactors. In 2025 of the 39,790 animals valued under the On Farm Market Valuation scheme just over 91% of animals were valued below the scheme ceilings.
As part of the work of the TB Forum, a dedicated Financial Working Group was established to review the financial modelling of various elements of the Bovine TB Eradication programme. As a result of the agreement reached in this Group, over the last two years there were rate enhancements to the Income Supplement Scheme, the Hardship Grant and the Depopulation Grant as well as enhanced ceilings for select animals being removed as part of the On Farm Market Valuation.
Due to the increased cost of the bTB programme in recent years, the focus at present is on reducing the levels of disease which will reduce the impact of bTB on Irish farm families and reduce the cost of the programme which has risen to over €121 million in 2025.
793. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants for funding through the support fund for anaerobic digestors, which closed in December 2025; the number of applications that were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6040/26]
View answerMy Department, together with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, co-published an agri centric National Biomethane Strategy in May 2024. This was Ireland’s first major policy statement on biomethane and is an important milestone in the development of this indigenous sector in Ireland.
As committed to under the Strategy, my Department launched the first capital grant programme for the industry on 7 August 2024. As part of the capital grant programme, 20% of total capital investment costs per applicant will be payable subject to a maximum level of funding of €5 million per project. This programme is funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Programme, REPowerEU. DAFM have partnered with SEAI to oversee the scheme administrative and technical aspects and ensure efficient delivery of the grant programme.
Capital grant letters of offer issued by my Department to 18 successful applicants in September 2024. As defined in the terms and conditions, applicants must have construction complete and installed capacity for the supported production facilities to produce sustainable biomethane by 31 December 2025. Applicants must also submit all supporting documents and a claim for payment by 14 January 2026. The date to submit all supporting documents and a claim for payment has been extended until 4 February 2026 to facilitate applicants in their processing of documentation.
To date no request for grant aid has been received from applicants approved for funding.
794. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to urgently intervene and allow for an agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6251/26]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the ACRES Co-operation (CP) stream and was approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023.
I have made further enquiries into the matter, and it is my understanding that ACRES officials from my Department have been in direct contact with both the herdowner and his adviser in relation to this case.
Where applicable, scoring must take place at least three times during the ACRES contract. However, the option to score in additional years is available.
ACRES officials have outlined that the onus lies with the herdowner to ensure that their Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) return is filed correctly. The option to re-score in 2024 was recorded as “yes” on the applicant’s BISS 2024. The scorecards were therefore sent to the AgriSnap app for scoring for 2024. As the scorecards were not submitted, the herdowner received a €0 ACRES payment.
In addition, the applicant’s scorecards would have been sent to his adviser’s, AgriSnap, when the scoring season opened in June 2024. As per circular 24/2024, a report function was added to GLAM for advisers in July 2024 that allowed all ACRES advisers to check the scorecard status and details of all their clients. The herdowner’s scorecards would have shown as unsubmitted on this report.
795. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the progress made by the deer management strategy group; the number of deer culled as a result of its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6406/26]
View answerMy Department, along with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage established the Irish Deer Management Strategy group to develop a strategy for the sustainable management of deer in Ireland. The Group comprised representatives from my Department, National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Coillte. A report was published into “Developing a Sustainable Deer Management Strategy for Ireland” in December 2023.
The report listed 16 Actions, 8 of which are recommended in the short term and 8 of which are recommended in the medium term. These recommended actions address a wide range of issues from hunter training and forest design to land use management and the venison market. The report concluded that a formal structure was required to manage deer in Ireland, which involved the appointment of a Programme Manager to implement the recommendations of the report and the establishment of local deer management units in known hotspot areas.
My Department is committed to progressing the implementation of the actions identified by the Irish Deer Management Strategy Group (IDMSG) in this report. The Programme Manager, who has been appointed, will work closely with the IDMSG, DAFM and the National Parks and Wildlife Service in prioritising and implementation of the short term recommendations identified in the report. The locations of the deer management units (DMUs) have been finalised. The locations of the DMUs is in response to what might be referred to as deer hotspots. These DMUs aim to give the best geographic coverage in order to reduce the density of deer in these areas.
The Programme Manager, through the local deer management units, will be liaising with licensed hunters and landowners in relation to the management of deer populations within the deer management units. Deer continue to be culled by appropriate licensed hunters within the hunting season and with the use of Section 42 licenses issued by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) outside the hunting season.
NPWS have overall responsibility for operational matters in relation to the licensing of culling of deer. NPWS maintain detailed records in this regard and any queries on the number of deer culled should be directed to the NPWS for response.
796. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it has been brought to his attention that the 117 dairy heifers exported to Libya on 5 January 2025, at the time of certification and approval for transport from Ireland to Spain, were intended for onward export by sea to Libya; whether any assessment was undertaken by his Department of animal welfare conditions on that onward journey; if he will clarify what responsibility his Department accepts once animals certified in Ireland are exported onward to third countries with known animal welfare concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6414/26]
View answerThe trade in and export of animals is a private commercial activity which is regulated by the Department in accordance with EU and National Regulations. Relevant EU and National Regulations for this sector include Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations, S.I. No. 675/2006 European Communities (Animal Transport and Control Post) Regulations 2006, S.I. No. 580/2007 - Diseases of Animals (Animal Transport) (Roll-On Roll-Off Vessels) Order 2007 and S.I. No. 356/2016 - Carriage of Livestock by Sea Regulations 2016.
The animals were subjected to veterinary inspection prior to transport, ensuring that they were fit for transport in terms of stage of pregnancy and all other fitness requirements in compliance with relevant provisions of national and EU regulations to allow them to be transported out of Ireland. The Department has been informed that no injuries, or deaths occurred during their transport to Spain.
The animals were transported onwards from Spain by a dedicated livestock vessel to Libya. Animals exported by livestock vessel from a Member State other than Ireland to a third country are transported in accordance with the relevant provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 on animal welfare during transport and related operations, as implemented and enforced by the veterinary authorities of all EU Member States.
My Department continues to collaborate closely with other EU Member States, the European Commission and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE) with a view to improving animal welfare standards in third countries, as well as improving and standardising animal welfare during transport. Specifically, Ireland has committed to annual funding of €75,000 in support of WOAH capacity-building activities relating to the welfare of animals in the context of long-distance animal transport, slaughter and the transport of animals by sea.
797. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the governance framework applied by his Department in assessing potential conflicts of interest when appointing or approving the appointment of a chairperson to Bord Bia, including the criteria used to assess external commercial interests; and whether this framework has been reviewed or updated in view of recent public concerns regarding imported beef sourcing by companies linked to Bord Bia's board members. [6553/26]
View answer798. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the ongoing oversight mechanisms in place within his Department to monitor conflicts of interest arising during the term of office of Bord Bia board members, including the chairperson; and whether his Department requires updated disclosures where material changes arise in commercial activities relevant to the statutory remit of Bord Bia. [6554/26]
View answer799. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he is satisfied that existing governance arrangements fully protect the statutory role of Bord Bia in promoting Irish food and agricultural produce; and the safeguards in place to ensure that board-level decision-making is not perceived to conflict with the interests of Irish farmers or Ireland’s agrifood reputation in international markets. [6555/26]
View answer800. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assessment which has been carried out by his Department on the impact of governance controversies within Bord Bia on farmer confidence in the Bord Bia quality assurance system; and the steps his Department takes, at policy level, to maintain confidence among primary producers in State-supported quality assurance structures. [6556/26]
View answer801. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the disclosure and transparency obligations imposed on Bord Bia's board members in respect of external commercial interests, including the way such disclosures are reviewed by his Department; and whether he plans to strengthen these requirements to protect public confidence in the governance of State bodies under his remit. [6557/26]
View answer802. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he plans to initiate, or has requested, a review of governance and conflict-of-interest guidance as it applies specifically to State bodies operating in the agrifood sector, including Bord Bia; and the scope and timeline of any such review. [6558/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 797 to 801, inclusive, together.
In relation to Bord Bia, my Department is guided by both the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, and the Bord Bia Acts.
Appointments to the Board of Bord Bia are made in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, Bord Bia’s Governing Acts and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform - Guidelines on Appointment to State Bodies (November 2014).
The appointment letter requests the appointee to draw their attention to the fiduciary duties pertaining to board members in Section 3.1 of the ‘Code of Practice’ on the Role of Board Members.
In addition, the Code details the requirement for:
Compliance with the Code of Conduct;
The application process for appointments to the Board of Bord Bia;
Board applicants to declare any conflicts of interests;
All Board members to complete Ethics and Conflict of Interest returns; and
Corporate Governance meetings to be held between my Department and Bord Bia in accordance with the Code of Practice.
I am satisfied that all requirements of the Code are being met and that these Governance arrangements protect the statutory role of Bord Bia.
