Written Answers Nos. 15-34
15. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking, in collaboration with the agriculture growers and food suppliers, to support the development and production of new food products tailored to the nutritional needs of individuals using GLP-1 medications, particularly those at risk of muscle loss; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49543/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s Food Vision 2030 Strategy aims to increase value add in food through insight, product development and differentiation. Central to this is research and innovation at both public and private levels. My Department plays a key role here in funding competitive, public-good research including in the area of food innovation, health and nutrition.
The Deputy has highlighted the unique nutritional needs of individuals using GLP-1 medications, including the importance of adequate protein and fibre intake. These changing dietary needs may also present opportunities for Ireland's agri-food sector to develop high-value, nutritious products to meet their needs in both domestic and international markets.
Over the past five years, my Department has invested more than €11 million in food nutrition and health research alone. This investment has strengthened Ireland's capabilities in nutrition science, healthy ageing, ingredient technologies and sustainable food systems, while supporting the development of evidence-based food products that address emerging consumer needs.
The PRO-WIN project is developing protein-enriched functional foods designed to meet the nutritional needs of people managing their weight, as well as older adults, with a particular focus on preserving muscle mass.
The SO-PLANTS project is developing sustainable, plant-based, protein-rich beverages using Irish-grown crops. These projects support the development of high-quality nutrition solutions that can help maintain muscle health while meeting new market opportunities for Irish-grown protein crops.
In addition, Department-funded projects are supporting the development of innovative protein and fibre ingredients from crops including faba beans and oats. Projects such as these bring together public researchers along with industry and farmers. These initiatives are helping to diversify Ireland's food offering and strengthen the capacity of Irish food companies to develop functional foods that respond to evolving consumer preferences. They also complement existing food and nutrition offerings from industry, including, for example, whey protein.
Enterprise Ireland and other public bodies are also supporting the food industry to avail of these new market opportunities through the technology centres, innovation partnerships, commercialisation grants and more. It is important that industry avail of these.
In addition, Bord Bia's consumer insights research provides valuable insights for Irish food and drink companies on consumer trends and changing nutrition requirements.
16. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming Report recommendations will be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52192/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn October 2024, an independent Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming was established. Farm succession is a complex issue and there are many factors that impact farmers’ decisions. The Commission adopted an objective, evidence-based approach to examining all the factors involved and engaged closely with stakeholders. In September 2025 I announced publication of their report.
The Commission produced a thorough analysis and made 31 recommendations across a wide range of areas including CAP Supports; Pensions; Taxation; Access to Finance; Access to Land; Collaborative Arrangements; Advisory Services; Education and Training; Gender Balance; and the Overall Attractiveness of the Sector. This work will ensure that Ireland has a well-researched basis to make optimal use of the policy tools available to encourage young people, who are the lifeblood of farming, into the sector. It ensures we have a comprehensive, well-considered foundation for future policy on generational renewal.
An implementation group in my Department has considered the recommendations and progress is being monitored on an ongoing basis. Some of the recommendations may be commenced in the short term, but some will be more medium term:
• The current CAP is fully programmed. Recommendations around CAP supports will have to be considered in the context of the next round, post 2027.
• Some recommendations in relation to taxation have already been implemented and more are being examined in the context of the next Budget.
• In relation to access to finance, a second tranche of funding under the SBCI’s Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme will be launched shortly.
• I am consulting with my colleague the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the recommendations around pensions.
• Discussions with Teagasc are ongoing regarding education & training and advisory services recommendations.
• The Gender balance recommendation is being progressed through my Department’s Women in Agriculture initiatives.
While acknowledging the complexity of this issue, I want to restate my commitment to an environment that encourages young people to farm and to secure a viable and sustainable future for the agri-food sector.
17. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the funding announced under the Agriculture and Climate Joint Research and Technology Initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52133/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has launched the 2026 Call for Proposals under the Ireland and New Zealand Agriculture and Climate Joint Research and Technology Initiative.
Ireland and New Zealand share many similarities as leading pasture-based livestock producing nations. Both countries face common challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture while maintaining productive and sustainable farming systems.
Under this Call, my Department is committing €3 million to research projects, which is being matched by the New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries, bringing the total funding available to €6 million. This funding will support collaborative research projects involving Irish researchers working in partnership with their New Zealand counterparts.
The funding is important because it will help advance, and where necessary accelerate, the development, validation and implementation of mitigation technologies that can contribute to national and international climate objectives. The initiative allows us to combine expertise, research capacity and resources, to help ensure that research findings can be translated into real-world outcomes for farmers and policymakers.
Besides bringing our researchers together in a formal way, a further key advantage of this initiative is the ability to support larger and more ambitious projects than would be possible through national funding alone. By combining resources from both countries, up to €6 million can be invested in a single project or across two substantial projects, allowing researchers to undertake work at a scale capable of delivering meaningful results and greater impact to address our shared climate challenges more effectively.
This initiative builds on the success of the previous Ireland and New Zealand research partnership and demonstrates Ireland’s continued commitment to supporting high-quality international research that benefits our agricultural sector, our climate ambitions and our rural communities.
18. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to safeguard the former Pillar II funding schemes in CAP post- 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51673/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Commission’s proposals for the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy introduce a new delivery model under which the current Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 structure would no longer apply. Instead, CAP interventions would operate within a proposed new National and Regional Partnership Plan framework.
However, while the structure of the policy is changing, the proposals continue to provide for a broad range of interventions supporting environmental sustainability, rural development, investment, knowledge transfer and innovation. In that regard, the types of measures currently associated with Pillar 2 continue to be provided for under the proposed legislative framework.
Negotiations on these proposals remain ongoing. As Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Ireland is facilitating discussions among Member States and acting as an honest broker in progressing negotiations on the remaining political and technical issues. Our objective is to build consensus on a future CAP that is practical, flexible and capable of supporting farmers across the European Union.
Once the legislative framework has been agreed at EU level, Member States will prepare their National and Regional Partnership Plans, including the CAP chapter. Ireland’s priority will be to develop a CAP framework that continues to support farm viability, while delivering effective environmental and climate measures, promoting innovation and knowledge transfer, strengthening rural communities and supporting the long-term sustainability and resilience of Irish agriculture.
19. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he will use the opportunity of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union to get fairness for Irish fishing communities from the CFP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51675/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland currently holds the six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union which commenced on 1 July and will continue through to 31 December 2026. During this period, Ireland will be responsible for driving the EU policy agenda and advancing work on EU legislative and policy initiatives.
Last month, Government launched the Irish Presidency Priorities and Policy Programme which sets out our overall approach for the 2026 Presidency, guided by three central pillars: security, competitiveness and values. These themes will be at the core of the Irish Presidency AgriFish Council agenda.
During Ireland’s Presidency, we will act as an honest broker, working constructively with all Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament to facilitate progress on fisheries proposals, future funding for fisheries and aquaculture as well as coordinating Member States' positions in Third Country consultations and advancing discussions on the outcome of the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Regulation.
The Commission’s report on its Evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation was published on 30 April. The first substantive discussion took place at the June AgriFish Council under the Cypriot Presidency.
The Irish Presidency will take these discussions forward, including through informal discussions, and facilitate Council’s engagement and input into the Commission’s Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture, due to be published later in 2026.
20. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to address the reported imminent crisis in the horticultural sector linked to uncertainty over peat supply and regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51542/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no remit in the regulation of peat extraction. Anyone wishing to extract peat must comply with the relevant planning and licensing requirements. Nevertheless, I am cognisant of the challenges peat supply and finding a suitable alternative to peat as a growing media is having on the horticulture sector.
With a view to supporting the horticulture sector and exploring solutions to provide a necessary supply of peat to the sector as it transitions away from the use of peat as a growing medium, there has been substantial cross-departmental engagement with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE).
The engagement followed the publication of the Working Paper to address challenges related to peat supply in the horticulture sector in January 2022. My Department committed to a number of actions in the published working paper including procuring expertise to prepare a 'User’s Guide for the regulatory processes (planning and environmental) that apply specifically to peat extraction activity for horticulture purposes on sites of less than 30ha in Ireland’.
My Department also committed to an action to explore the potential of sub 30 hectare peat sites as a source of peat for the horticulture sector. This led to the publication of the ‘Final Report on the assessment of the Levels and Suitability of Current Indigenous Peat Stocks and Identification of Sub-Thirty Hectare Sites and other recommendations to support domestic horticulture industry as it transitions to peat alternatives’[.]
The recommendations in this report were considered cross-Departmentally and as a result my Department is currently engaging with the County and City Management Agency to progress recommendation one in the aforementioned report concerning a pilot scheme with Local Authorities for peat extraction on sub 30 hectare peatlands. The specific objective of this engagement is to try and find a workable and legally compliant solution for the supply of peat for horticulture sector.
Separately, through the EU Producer Organisation Scheme for fruit and vegetables, substantial support has been provided to fund research into peat free alternatives. Financial support has been also been provided for work into peat alternatives through the horticulture grant schemes operated by my Department. My Department is also funding the Beyond Peat project led by Teagasc, which is researching a number of potential peat free alternatives.
21. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the Ireland–New Zealand joint research initiative will translate into practical, farm-level measures to support farmers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining productivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52200/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently announced a second phase of the Ireland and New Zealand research partnership, called the ‘Agriculture and Climate Joint Research and Technology Initiative’. This is specifically designed to advance, and where appropriate accelerate, the development of practical mitigation technologies and farm management approaches that can help farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining productivity and competitiveness.
The 2026 Call for Proposals under the Initiative places a strong emphasis on research that is directly relevant to commercial farming systems. The focus of proposals being sought under the Call is that they advance practical solutions that combines a range of mitigation measures or technologies across full production cycles and under real farm conditions to help farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions from pasture-based livestock systems. These could include practices and technologies such as the use of feed additives, environmental inhibitors, breeding for animals with lower methane, use of feed materials to reduce emissions, and others.
Besides testing these when used in combination and across longer periods, researchers will also be required to demonstrate clear pathways for eventual implementation and adoption, including identifying barriers and enablers to uptake and ensuring that project outcomes can be translated into practical action on farms.
Farmer engagement, knowledge transfer and communication are also central requirements of the Call. Projects must include mechanisms to engage with farmers, advisory services and other stakeholders throughout the lifetime of the research. They must also provide clear knowledge transfer and communication plans for disseminating results and supporting uptake of research outputs by the sector.
The Call mission reflects the shared challenges and opportunities facing Ireland and New Zealand as leading pasture-based livestock producers. By combining expertise, funding and research capability from both countries, we can accelerate the development, validation and deployment of technologies and tools to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions while safeguarding farm productivity and profitability.
22. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the main aims he hopes to deliver at an EU level for Irish farmers in the next six months while we hold the EU presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52286/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Ireland’s work will be guided by the following clear objectives: to support farming and fishing families, protect incomes, strengthen competitiveness, sustain rural and coastal communities, and strike the right balance between the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainability.
Farming is fundamental to ensuring Europe’s food security and supporting its competitiveness, while at the same time sustaining rural communities, and contributing to the Union’s climate and environmental objectives. Ireland’s Presidency will ensure that it remains at the heart of European policy, and that its place is actively protected and strengthened.
That is why one of my central priorities will be to advance discussions on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2027. The CAP reforms must preserve the policy's ability to contribute to food security, secure farm incomes and support rural resilience, with predictability and fairness. These priorities will guide the negotiations on the future framework and budget.
The Irish Presidency will also seek to progress the implementation of the Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food, with a particular focus on food security, generational renewal, sustainable livestock, the bioeconomy, animal welfare, and making EU rules simpler and more workable for farmers.
23. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the social farming scheme; the level of take up on the scheme to date throughout the country; if he intends expanding the scheme in 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52196/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial 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. My Department has strongly supported the development of social farming in Ireland over the last decade.
My Department has a budget of €1.277m allocated to Social Farming programmes for 2026. The Rural Innovation and Development Fund (RIDF) distributes this funding through two separate funding streams.
The first stream of funding is the national network. This funding goes towards the development and maintenance of a nationwide project which supports and co-ordinates social farming across the State.
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. In 2025 there were over 10,400 social farming placement days secured for 1,014 participants through the national network. Over 160 farms were engaged as national network farms in 2025, with a further 60 farms undertaking training at the end of the year to possibly enter the pool of available locations for placements. The national network engaged with over 140 service providers in 2025 across a range of sectors including disability, mental health and youth services.
The second funding element 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.
This year there was once again significant interest in operating model social farm projects and a comprehensive public procurement competition for model projects was run in the first half of this year. My Department is currently notifying successful applicants.
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.
My Department is committed to expanding and improving the services available to participants through our support for Social Farming endeavours across the country and intends to continue to support these programmes in 2027.
24. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will consider devising a grant scheme to improve farm access roads and internal farm roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51670/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) which is a key element of the current CAP Strategic Plan provides grants to farmers to invest in their farm businesses through building and/or improving a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings.
I can confirm that TAMS 3 does provide funding for new farm roads under the Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS), Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS), Women Farmers Capital Investment Scheme (WFCIS), and the Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS).
However as it is a existing legal requirement under the EU Nitrates Directive for farmers to maintain their farm roadways to ensure there is no run off directly to a watercourse, it is not possible to provide funding under TAMS to repair or resurface existing internal farm roads.
I can confirm that to date some 28 applications for new farm roads have been approved under TAMS 3, with 11 applications completed and payment made to farmers, with a total value of over €100,000.
25. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress being made in the forgotten farmer scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52195/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Long Established Young Farmers, commonly referred to as Forgotten Farmers, are a group defined as young farmers who were under the age of 40 in 2015, had commenced in agriculture prior to 2008, did not receive young farmer Installation Aid and were not eligible for young farmer supports under the CAP from 2015 due to the date they had first set up in agriculture. These basic criteria were established when the issue of "Forgotten Farmers" first arose in 2015 after consultation with farmer representatives at the time. The aim of the criteria was to identify farmers who missed out on supports for young farmers because they did not meet the changing eligibility grounds between CAP cycle changes and economic downturn from 2009 to 2015.
The Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, contained a commitment to deliver a scheme that recognises the category of farmers known as the ‘Forgotten Farmers’. In order to deliver on this commitment, my Department opened a scheme based on the long established criteria, consultation and survey responses in July 2025.
I am pleased to say that my Department delivered payments under the scheme in December 2025, with each of the 445 successful applicants receiving the maximum amount of €5,000 as provided for in the scheme terms and conditions. Therefore, my Department has delivered on the Programme for Government commitment.
Where an applicant was unsuccessful, my Department provided them with the opportunity to appeal their rejection on eligibility grounds. At this point, these appeals are still being worked through and successful appellants will be notified in the coming months.
26. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he has taken to improve horse welfare in Cork. [51018/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAnimal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government.
My Department has lead policy responsibility within government for animal welfare and takes this matter most seriously. I am committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner and remain committed to the continued robust enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which provides a modern framework for regulating and applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare.
My Department and authorised officers appointed under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, including An Garda Síochána, Customs agents, local authorities, and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), undertake appropriate enforcement action, where breaches or shortcomings are identified.
Since the introduction of the Act, approximately 1,000 staff within my Department have been designated as authorised officers, under the Act. A large number of these authorised officers are based in my Department’s network of Regional Veterinary Offices throughout the country, providing nationwide coverage.
The welfare of equines is protected by legislation and there is a commitment in the Programme for Government to build on existing inspectorate supports across the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with horse welfare. It must be emphasised that primary responsibility for the health and welfare of equines lies with the owner or keeper.
I expect to launch a new Animal Welfare Strategy shortly, which will continue to adopt a ‘One Health, One Welfare’ approach, acknowledging and valuing the inter-dependencies between human, animal and environmental health, and taking an evidence-led approach to policy making, target-setting, monitoring and evaluation.
Last year, my Department published Professor Patrick Wall’s report on equine traceability and welfare and an action plan to implement its recommendations, which is rapidly progressing with 23 of the 31 actions completed in 2025 and the remaining eight expected to be complete in 2026.
In line with the Programme for Government, I also support sustainable initiatives which include nationwide urban horse projects. Working with local authorities, charities and community stakeholders, these projects have proven very successful, aimed at equine welfare and marginalised communities, fostering community leadership and education in responsible horse ownership for young people. My Department has spent over €2.1 million from 2015 to date, on urban horse projects, with €170,000 allocated for 2026. There are currently ten live projects, and I would welcome new submissions from local authorities to develop urban horse projects in their respective areas.
Under the Animal Welfare Grants programme, in December 2025, my Department provided funding of almost €6.5 million to 94 animal welfare charities throughout the country. Of that figure, just over €783,250 was awarded to charities involved in animal welfare in Cork.
My Department also operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation. The dedicated email address and helpline in place for reporting suspected cases of animal welfare are:
Helpline Phone No: 01 607 2379.
Email address - animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie
All reports of alleged cruelty or neglect received by my Department are investigated.
27. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the average processing timelines for foreshore licence applications; the measures that are being introduced to reduce delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51498/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra84. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to improve the efficiency of the foreshore licence application process; his plans to increase staffing or technical resources within his Department to address existing delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51497/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 84 together.
The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), under the auspices of the Minster for Climate, Energy and the Environment, are the primary authority in respect of foreshore applications. However, my Department is the appropriate department, under Section 1B of the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended, where the application:
(a) relates to a fishery harbour centre, or
(b) relates to a function which is primarily for the use, development or support of aquaculture, or is wholly or primarily for the use, development or support of sea-fishing including the processing and sale of sea-fish and manufacture of products derived from sea-fish.
My Department considers applications for foreshore leases and foreshore licences in accordance with the provisions of the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended, and applicable national and EU legislation.
The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation. Decisions in respect of foreshore licence applications are only taken following the fullest consideration of all consultations and public interest elements of each application, including environmental considerations.
All foreshore licence applications must be both technically assessed and screened for an Appropriate Assessment (AA). My Department’s Marine Engineers report on technical matters in relation to foreshore applications and the Marine Institute, as the scientific advisor to my Department, report on foreshore applications, including in respect of Appropriate Assessment screenings.
My Department has recently allocated funding under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) to enable the Marine Institute to recruit two additional technical experts to focus solely on the completion of Appropriate Assessments. While these additional resources are targeted at aquaculture licensing, this will in turn increase the Marine Institute's capacity to advise on foreshore applications also. Additionally, my Department has engaged the services of an external environmental consultant to assist with clearing the current back log of Appropriate Assessments, as appropriate.
Every effort is being made by my Department to expedite the determination of all outstanding applications, having regard to the complexities involved and the need to fully comply with all relevant national and EU legislation.
28. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions his Department is taking to prepare for 1 January 2028, and the European Commission's implementing decision on nitrates derogation; if Ireland is on target to maintain the present status, allowing eligible farms to stock above the standard EU limit of 170kg organic nitrogen/ha; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52036/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 9th of December last year EU Member States unanimously voted in favour of a European Commission proposal granting a three-year extension to Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation subject to additional conditions.
In light of evolving case law, as part of this approval, the Commission directed that Ireland must undertake assessments on the impact granting individual nitrates derogations may have on the objectives set under the Habitats and Water Framework Directives.
The requirement for such a large number of complex environmental assessments, to be completed by the end of 2028, is significant.
However, the Government is committed to completing these assessments as required and my Department, working in consultation with other Government Departments and State Agencies, is devoting significant resources to operationalising these assessments.
In line with the current collaborative approach to improving water quality, the Government remains focussed on continued stakeholder engagement throughout this process. By way of example, I outlined progress in this regard to Commissioner Roswell during her visit in June. Last week, the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group, established by my Department in 2023, also discussed progress.
Actions taken now will influence water quality data in 2027 and 2028. Therefore, we must continue to build on the momentum to reduce agriculture’s impact on water quality.
To this end, Ireland's Sixth Nitrates Action Programme aims to achieve the optimum balance between a combination of regulation, knowledge transfer, awareness raising, and incentivisation to drive improvements in water quality. For example:
• The new Nitrates Regulations signed into law by my colleague Minister Browne introduced new and strengthened measures.
• Earlier this year, my Department delivered mandatory water quality training for over 860 accredited Farm Advisory Service advisers.
• In addition, Teagasc are rolling out their Better Farming for Water multi-actor advisory campaign focused on simple messaging and priority catchments, including the Blackwater and Lee catchments within your own constituency.
• Building on Minister of State Cummins' introduction of the planning permission exemption criteria for standalone slurry storage, I recently amended the TAMS ranking and selection criteria to ensure farmers seeking support for investment in nutrient storage are prioritised.
To conclude, we must all work to build on the current momentum so we can see improved water quality data.
29. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the benefits of a State run hill sheep research farm, acknowledging the benefits of such research to hill sheep farmers as well as the benefits of research into biodiversity and carbon storage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51125/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s uplands areas support approximately 16,000 hill farming households, most of which participate in hill sheep production, with some also operating suckler cattle systems. It is recognised that upland farming faces socio-economic and environmental challenges, including lower farm incomes, coupled with biodiversity and climate impacts.
I am committed to working with stakeholders to improve the economic sustainability of upland farming, including hill sheep farmers. I recognise the requirement for more long-term research in upland areas. I appreciate that it encompasses not only sheep production research but also uplands cattle, vegetation, water quality, carbon and habitat research to run concurrently, so that the interaction between all these elements is fully understood.
In that regard, I am aware that Teagasc is exploring the possibility of establishing a dedicated upland hill research farm to help address the economic, environmental and societal challenges facing farmers in these areas. I am supportive of Teagasc’s endeavours in this area and there has been engagement with my Department on the matter.
This initiative would complement Teagasc’s existing sheep research programme based in the Teagasc Athenry research centre. This programme plays a leading role in advancing research in the areas of grassland and grazing management, sheep breeding and reproduction, sheep welfare, and sheep production systems including hill sheep production.
In addition, the Teagasc BETTER Farm Sheep Programme is being implemented on collaborating farms, including hill sheep farms, in Donegal, Galway, Sligo and Wicklow. These farms demonstrate the benefits of the wider adoption of the latest grassland management, flock health, breeding and production methods by the Irish sheep industry.
For my part, I am committed to supporting sheep farmers with targeted supports to promote a resilient and sustainable sheep sector. In Budget 2026, I secured an allocation of €42m to the sheep sector to continue existing dedicated supports, including €20m for the multi-annual Sheep Improvement Scheme and €22m for the annual National Sheep Welfare Scheme.
In addition, there are many other multi-annual schemes available under the current CAP Strategic Plan, such as basic income payments as well as agri-environment and organic farming schemes, which are particularly significant for sheep farmer incomes.
30. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a report will be published (details supplied) [51674/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have engaged Mr. Kieran Mulvey to produce an independent report by working with seafood representative groups in order to identify and articulate issues, priorities, and opportunities for the sector.
The purpose of this engagement is to consider the independent report in order to assist me in setting the Terms of Reference for a Fisheries Sector Strategy, as provided for in the Programme for Government.
Mr. Mulvey visited the Department's six Fishery Harbour Centres and met with various stakeholder organisations representing the catching (both inshore and offshore), processing and aquaculture sectors.
I expect Mr. Mulvey's report to be published shortly.
31. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of badgers culled in the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52311/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Bovine TB (bTB) Eradication Programme includes actions to address the risk of TB transmission from badgers to cattle. My Department implements two main control strategies in relation to this risk: removal of badgers, and vaccination of badgers. These are carried out in areas around the country where there have been epidemiological links associating badgers with bovine TB breakdowns. The number of badgers culled in the past year is 7,639.
I launched the ‘Bovine TB Action Plan: Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland’ in September 2025 which includes 5 measures and 30 actions underpinned by scientific research and veterinary expertise.
Support herds free of bTB to remain free
Reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bTB
Detect and eliminate bTB infection as early as possible in herds with a bTB breakdown and avoid a future breakdown
Help farmers improve all areas of on-farm biosecurity
Reduce the impact of known high-risk animals in spreading bTB
The aim of the Action Plan is to reset the TB programme by putting in place measures necessary to tackle the current disease situation. These measures are targeting both transmission between wildlife and cattle and transmission between cattle.
One of the key actions in Measure 2: Reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bTB is to include a Test Vaccinate Remove approach to badger vaccination that will ensure that only healthy badgers will be vaccinated thus further improving the effectiveness of my Department's wildlife programme.
32. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce or expand a dedicated farm succession scheme to support the timely transfer of family farms to the next generation; the measures he is considering to encourage earlier succession and generational renewal, particularly in counties such as Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51679/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFarm succession is a key priority for the Government to ensure the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of Irish agriculture. A range of supports are in place to encourage timely succession, facilitate generational renewal and assist young farmers in establishing viable farm businesses.
Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 provides substantial resources to achieving generational renewal. There are also strong national taxation measures to facilitate succession and assist land mobility. In addition the Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme (GSLS) provides low-cost, long-term investment loans up to ten years, and is a viable source of finance for young farmers. Teagasc education and knowledge activities focus on equipping young farmers with necessary education, training and advice to build long and successful careers in farming.
It is worth restating that the Report of the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming estimated that total financial support to generational renewal in Ireland was some €428.6m in 2024.
It is also worth noting that the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming stated that this is an issue for all agri-food stakeholders to address; to support the environmental, social and economic sustainability of farming, and to enhance its image as a career.
Regarding any formal farm succession scheme, we are engaging with the 10 recommendations in the Report around CAP supports. These will need to be considered in the context of the new round post 2027, including the new CAP regulation and the new budget, and in stakeholder consultations.
The challenge of attracting young people into a career in farming is widely recognised, both at national and EU level. The most recent figures show that only 4.35 % of farmers are under 35 years of age, and some 37% of farmers are over 65. Demographic challenges for the agricultural sector are not unique to Ireland, and these figures are similar for the EU as a whole.
The Programme for Government prioritises “supporting inter-generational farm succession”. Supporting young farmers and facilitating generational renewal is critical to ensure a bright future for the agri-food sector. And while supporting young farmers and new entrants, it is also important to consider the position of older and retiring farmers.
33. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his response to proposals from the European Commission to cut the budget of the Common Agricultural Policy. [52300/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe overall EU budget for the Common Agricultural Policy for the period beyond 2027 forms part of the wider Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations, which are led at EU level by Finance Ministers and will ultimately be agreed by Heads of State and Government at the European Council.
From Ireland's perspective, these negotiations have been led by the Department of Finance and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in close consultation with my Department and the Department of the Taoiseach. My Department has been actively contributing to this process to ensure that the importance of a strong and adequately funded CAP, and also the Common Fisheries Policy, has been fully reflected.
The Commission’s proposal for the next MFF includes a significant reduction in the ring-fenced Common Agricultural Policy budget compared with the current programming period. I have previously highlighted that this is a matter of serious concern for Ireland, given the need to adequately fund a policy that plays a vital role in supporting viable farm incomes, food security, environmental sustainability, generational renewal and vibrant rural communities.
While the Commission has proposed that Member States would have the possibility of transferring funding from the wider National and Regional Partnership Plan (NRPP) envelope into the CAP, further clarity is required on how these provisions would operate in practice.
With Ireland now in the Presidency Chair, we will be working as an honest broker to advance the negotiations on the future budget to the maximum possible extent over the coming months, taking into account the views of all Member States as we work to build consensus on a range of issues, including CAP funding.
Over this period I will continue to work closely with my Government colleagues, and to engage constructively with Member State counterparts and the European Commission, to ensure that the CAP budget ultimately agreed reflects the strategic importance of agriculture, and the sector's contribution to Europe’s food security and long-term resilience.
34. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the mortality rates in live cattle exports; if he will consider ending the practice on animal welfare grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52309/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe trade in and export of animals to EU and third countries is a private commercial activity which is regulated by my Department in accordance with EU and National Regulations.
My Department monitors compliance through a robust system of official controls. These include advance inspection to ensure all animals are fit for transport and comply with the terms of their health certification, Animal transport is only permitted where journeys can be carried out in full compliance with EU and National Regulations.
My Department does not record the level of cattle mortalities transported by road vehicle and RoRo vessel to other Member States via the French port of Cherbourg.
In order for a dedicated vessel to be allowed load and transport cattle out of Ireland it must be approved in accordance with the provisions of S.I. No. 356/2016 - Carriage of Livestock by Sea Regulations 2016. This National Regulation sets a higher threshold for approval than the relevant provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations. Typically, the number of mortalities that arise during transport from Ireland by dedicated vessel is relatively low. Any mortalities that do arise during transport by dedicated vessel from Ireland are recorded and returns are made via the Masters Report to my Department following completion of each journey
Mortality rates in respect of live cattle exports transported by dedicated livestock vessels out of Ireland to third countries in 2025 are detailed in the table below.
|
Year |
2025 |
|
Year |
2025 |
|
Number of animals exported to Third Countries via dedicated livestock vessel |
7,562 |
|
Mortalities |
3 |
|
% number of mortalities |
0.040% |
My Department is conscious of the need to ensure the welfare of the animals in transit and is satisfied that the systems in place in respect of extra-community movement of these animals are supportive of the welfare of the animals and in compliance with the relevant legislation. My Department continues to review its processes and procedures in relation to the welfare of animals transported out of Ireland on an ongoing basis.
Live exports are an important part of Ireland’s livestock industry. They play a significant role in stimulating price competition and providing an alternative market outlet for farmers. My Department facilitates this trade, recognising its importance to the agri-food sector, while placing a strong emphasis on the welfare of all animals being transported. I have no plans to introduce legislation to end this trade.
