Cathal Crowe
Question:266. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23069/26]
View answerWednesday, 25 March 2026
Questions (266)
Written answers
The 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. 32% 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.
|
Action Status |
Number of Actions |
|
Total actions where DAFM is the lead Department |
105 |
|
Target achieved |
5 |
|
Substantial action undertaken and ongoing |
28 |
|
Action commenced and progressing |
64 |
|
Action not yet commenced |
8 |
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. A 'Food Vision Seafood Sector Group' was established.
• My Department issued more than €2.18 billion in payments to farmers and fishers over the course of 2025.
• The launch of the Bovine TB Action Plan.
• The launch of the second National Farmed Animal Biosecurity Strategy (2025-2030).
• Ongoing market access work, including the opening of the Thai and Vietnamese markets for Irish beef exports, priority export markets for the beef sector.
• The announcement of a new €30 million National Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme.
• 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 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 the agri-food and fisheries sector in collaboration with stakeholders and to deliver on our Programme for Government commitments.