Dáil debates

Thursday, 26 May 2022

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Agriculture Industry

11:00 am

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

121. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 31 March 2022, the status of the wool feasibility study; when the final report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26800/22]

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have specific questions in regard to the wool feasibility study being carried out. Where is it? When is going to be published? What are the reasons for the delay?

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As Deputy Connolly will be aware, one of the commitments in the current programme for Government is to conduct a review of the potential demand for wool-based products, such as for insulation and fertilisers in domestic and international markets. There is huge potential for us to develop a wool industry here in Ireland to help to drive increased returns to our sheep farming families. Over the last couple of years, for a product that used to be quite valuable, it has not been covering the costs of clipping.

In March last year, I initiated a public consultation to identify terms of reference for this review and the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, has worked to bring this forward. The agreed terms of reference were as follows: identification and assessment of market opportunities domestically and internationally for wool-based products; carrying out economic feasibility and cost-benefit analysis on proposed market opportunities; determining mechanisms that could be used to support industry initiatives; and identification of potential research projects applicable to supporting the identified market opportunities. Respondents were also asked to make recommendations on potential domestic and international market opportunities for wool products. Forty-five stakeholder submissions were received.

The request for tenders seeking service providers to carry out this study was published in July 2021 through a competitive public procurement procedure and five tenders were received. In November 2021, I appointed “The Agile Executive”, a consortium of experts from Munster Technological University and Donegal Yarns, to conduct this study. The expert group was contracted to conduct the review in accordance with the terms of reference. The final report has been received and is expected to be published in the coming weeks. Given that wool is a natural substance that is sustainable, organic and renewable and can be used in a variety of products such as textiles, fertiliser and insulation, it makes great sense to investigate its potential.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

When we ask a lot of questions, we build up a library of responses. What jumps out of that response gives life to the cliché of pulling the wool over our eyes. The Minister repeated, as the Minister of State repeated, the huge potential in regard to wool products, and I agree with them. Where is the feasibility study? What is the delay? Part of the terms of reference surely included a timespan. Has that timespan been exceeded? If so, why? The only positive thing I heard from the Minister is that the final report is with the Department. Is it going to be published?

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are being very proactive in trying to identify new uses for wool. The completion of the report took longer than we had hoped but we were pushing hard to keep it moving along. Thankfully, we now have the report and it will be published in the next short period - over the next few weeks.

Our objective has to be to see how we can add value to wool. Its traditional use is in regard to clothing and while that market has become depressed, there are new potential uses for it. I hope this report will provide potential opportunities and then, as a Government, we will look to see how we can try to work on delivering on those opportunities. It is something we owe to our sheep farmers and also something we owe to the sustainability of the sector overall because it is such a tremendous natural product. We have to make sure we maximise its potential and its uses.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I fully appreciate that but the same language has been used repeatedly, with reference made to the programme for Government, conducting a review, the potential demand for insulation and fertilisers, and the domestic and international markets. I welcome the Minister's confirmation that it is going to be published, which is positive news. Cuirim fáilte roimh an fógra sin. However, why has it taken so long? It was going to be published “shortly”, “in the first quarter of 2022”, “very soon”, and so on. At some stage, words have to mean something instead of woolly language. Forgive me for this stretching of clichés and stretching of words but we are drowning in responses like this. I will take the best part of the response today, which is that it is going to be published in the next few months.

In his reply, will the Minister clarify the cost? I know €100,000 was set aside. Were the terms of reference extended to allow it to continue on and to look at the various issues that have been identified? What is the cost to date?

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To take the Deputy’s approach, we are looking for woolly opportunities here. We are looking to maximise the potential that wool can deliver in terms of new uses, ones that have not traditionally been used and ones which can deliver a profit margin for farmers and remove what has become a cost for them. Under the programme for Government, we have taken this initiative, which is unique among countries internationally. We are looking to forge new ground and we are working hard to drive it on as quickly as we can. We will be publishing that report and we will then look to see how we can avail of the opportunities that might be there. If the Deputy has any ideas or suggestions in that regard, we are certainly very open to that. This is a tremendous natural product and one which we want to use.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What has been the cost to date?

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As to the overall cost, €100,000 was committed to the project.