Agriculture Schemes

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Questions (569, 570, 571)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

569. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 194 of 10 June 2026, if there is any Departmental requirement that DNA samples, applications or associated documentation must be submitted by mid-October in order to qualify for funding under the equine technical support and equine breeding scheme; if no such Departmental requirement exists, whether the statement that submissions after mid-October were ‘not grant funded’ was based solely on an internal deadline established by a society (details supplied); if his Department has confirmed that DNA testing undertaken after mid-October, but before the scheme claim deadline of 7 December 2026, remains eligible for grant support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46974/26]

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Mairéad Farrell

Question:

570. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 194 of 10 June 2026 , if his Department has considered whether the application of an earlier society deadline creates a disadvantage for breeders whose foals are born later in the year, particularly where equine technical support and equine breeding scheme documentation refers to support being available in the year of foaling. [46975/26]

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Mairéad Farrell

Question:

571. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question 1514 of 9 June 2026, to provide a breakdown of the costs associated with the First-Time Verification Project, including the total amount of public funding received, the amount contributed by breeders, the basis on which breeder charges were calculated, and any additional charges or surcharges applied; if his Department has queried the basis upon which breeders were required to purchase first-time foal parentage verification testing packages by 31 August 2026 and submit samples by September, failing which surcharges of approximately €50–€60 were applied;given the Department’s confirmation that completed claims may be submitted up to 7 December 2006, whether it is correct that the Society receives no grant support in respect of First-Time Foal Parentage Verification testing undertaken after 15 September, and if so, the specific Departmental rule, scheme provision, or funding condition on which that position is based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46976/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 569, 570 and 571 together.

The first-time verification project (70% grant rate of total cost €98,175) was approved by my Department to the named organisation under the Equine Technical Support and Equine Breeding Scheme (ETS) in 2026.

As an annual scheme, all ETS projects must be completed by the applicant and funding paid by my Department within the calendar year. Accordingly, the deadline for submission of completed claims to my Department by the named organisation is the 7th December 2026 in order to ensure payment of funds in the calendar year.

The named organisation is responsible for managing and overseeing the project, including any conditions, associated timelines and charges to participants.

Question No. 570 answered with Question No. 569.

Question No. 571 answered with Question No. 569.