Written Answers Nos. 332-341
334. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a publicly accessible system of traceability to track imported products of animal origin for human consumption from farm to fork: if not, whether his Department will consider developing such a system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8800/26]
View answerThe Food Safety Authority of Ireland is the central competent authority maintaining responsibility for the food chain through service contracts with a number of government agencies and departments.
Recording of consignments of meat imports into Ireland is maintained on the EU TRACEs database and is supervised in Ireland by my Department.
Traceability in the food chain is provided for under Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 which requires that all food and feed businesses in the EU implement a traceability system based on the food business operators responsibility to maintain records of ‘one step forward and one step back’ which ensures that they can identify immediate suppliers and customers. This requirement is applicable to all stages of production with some exceptions. Retail establishments selling meat to the final consumer (e.g. butchers) typically do not fall under the supervision of my Department.
The primary responsibility of maintaining records supporting traceability rests with the food business operator and these records must be made available on demand to authorised officers of the competent authorities who verify compliance. Labelling of meat products, as required by EU Regulation 2011/1169, EU Regulation 1760/2000 (beef traceability) and EU Regulation 1337/2013 (origin of pigs, sheep, goats and poultry) also plays a central role in meat traceability.
The auditing of compliance with traceability recording and the labelling legislative requirements are conducted by my Department in the establishments under its supervision at a frequency determined on a risk-basis.
335. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of common health entry documents for Products of Animal Origin (CHED P) were processed by his Department, by designated border control post of entry and third party country of origin for the years 2024 and 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8801/26]
View answer336. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of sanitary and phytosanitary checks which were carried out at designated border control posts here on imports covered by common health entry documents for products of animal origin, by country of origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8802/26]
View answer338. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the gross tonnage of imports processed under the common health entry documents for products of animal origin (CHED P), by designated border control post of entry and third party country of origin for the years 2024 and 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8804/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 335, 336 and 338 together.
The table below provides the details of the third country imports into the European Union through Irish Border Control Posts in 2024, 2025 and 2026, all of which were subject to Import Control (Sanitary/Phytosanitary) inspections by officials of my Department.
The following revised reply was received on 18 March 2026.
337. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the person or body which logs and is responsible for all types of meat imports to Ireland; the person or body which tracks it from farm to fork; the location it is kept; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8803/26]
View answerThe Food Safety Authority of Ireland is the central competent authority maintaining responsibility for the food chain through service contracts with a number of government agencies and departments.
Recording of consignments of meat imports into Ireland is maintained on the EU TRACEs database and is supervised in Ireland by my Department.
Traceability in the food chain is provided for under Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 which requires that all food and feed businesses in the EU implement a traceability system based on the food business operators responsibility to maintain records of ‘one step forward and one step back’ which ensures that they can identify immediate suppliers and customers. This requirement is applicable to all stages of production with some exceptions. Retail establishments selling meat to the final consumer (e.g. butchers) typically do not fall under the supervision of my Department.
The primary responsibility of maintaining records supporting traceability rests with the food business operator and these records must be made available on demand to authorised officers of the competent authorities who verify compliance. Labelling of meat products, as required by EU Regulation 2011/1169, EU Regulation 1760/2000 (beef traceability) and EU Regulation 1337/2013 (origin of pigs, sheep, goats and poultry) also plays a central role in meat traceability.
The auditing of compliance with traceability recording and the labelling legislative requirements are conducted by my Department in the establishments under its supervision at a frequency determined on a risk-basis.
339. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if force majeure will be accepted for 2023 and 2024 BISS and ANC applications from a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied) following the submission of medical evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8964/26]
View answerAn application for participation in the 2023 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme was received from the above named applicant on the 29th May 2023.
An application for participation in the 2024 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme was received from the above named applicant on the 11th May 2024.
Following completion of the relevant administration checks by my Department, it was determined that the applicant had not met the required stocking to be eligible for payment under the ANC scheme.
As set out in the scheme terms and conditions, applicants are required to fulfil both of the following stocking rate criteria to be eligible for payment.
Annual Stocking Rate: Applicants must meet their annual stocking rate requirement (minimum 0.10LU/ha per month).
Retention period: Applicants must maintain a stocking density equal to or greater than 0.10 LU/ha for a minimum of 28 consecutive weeks in the relevant calendar year.
In 2025 the herdowner requested that an application for Force Majeure be considered regarding his 2025 ANC scheme application.
The applicant was notified by letter on 11th September 2025 that as he had been successfully considered for Force Majeure in respect of the 2022 ANC Scheme on medical grounds, he could not be reconsidered for Force Majeure in 2025 as the medical conditions cannot be regarded as unforeseen.
The applicant was also notified that he could contact the Agriculture Appeals Office (AAO) within three months of the date of the letter.
340. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision will issue on a BISS and ANC dual claim (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8965/26]
View answerThe above named applicant submitted an application for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other area-based schemes on May 5th 2025.
As per the Terms and Conditions for the BISS lands declared by a farmer must be at the farmer’s disposal from a period from the beginning of the year up to May 31st or from May 31st to the year end. The land may be owned, leased, rented or there may be alternative contractual agreements in place to allow the land to be declared.
The above named applicant provided a solicitor’s letter for land purchased in 2025. The letter, dated 19th September 2025, states that a legal issued has occurred and sale is not yet completed.
On 8th December 2025 DAFM wrote to the applicant to request a lease/rental agreement for the period to 1st October 2025 for the parcel in question. An agreement from the sellers (signed by all parties named on the Folio) would suffice, stating that the applicant in question had the right to farm the land for 2025.
When further documentation is received my Department will review this case.
341. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide urgent funding to Kerry social farming to allow this amazing initiative to grow and excel across County Kerry; if he will roll-out social farming across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9107/26]
View answerSocial farming is the practice of offering, on a voluntary basis, farming and horticultural participation in a farming environment as a choice to people who avail of a range of therapeutic day support services. Social Farming provides a planned, outcome focused, support placement for people on a farm using the natural assets of the people, the place, the activities and the community to support a person to achieve some of their own chosen goals. It is fundamentally based on spending time with farmers and their families in the natural environment of the farm, but also encompasses two other key elements;:
- valuable, meaningful activities, and
- social and community connection which combine to deepen its impact further and to support recovery.
I have allocated a budget of €1.277m for Social Farming projects in 2026 which allows my Department to support Social farming through its Rural Innovation and Development Fund (RIDF).
There are two funding streams in the RIDF dedicated to Social Farming.
The first stream is focused on the development of a national network to support and co-ordinate social farming nationally. The primary aim of this network is to expand and develop social farming nationally by increasing the number of host farms, participants, placement days and service providers engaged in social farming.
The second funding element, of which South Kerry Development Partnership has been a recipient since 2016,, is focused on the development of model social farming projects. These projects aim to provide the best social farming experience for the participants who can avail of the service. The projects’ goals are to foster inclusion, build self-esteem and improve health and well-being for the participants.
My Department is committed to expanding and improving the services available to participants through our support for Social Farming endeavours across the country.
The current contract with South Kerry Development Partnership ends on 30 June, 2026. In advance of that date my Department will again be running public procurement competitions for model projects for funding beyond June 2026.
