Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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275. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will develop native honey production as a food product, given that 90% of honey consumption is imported and given that this product has huge potential for job creation if proper supports and specialist training courses for persons who wish to enter this market are put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41770/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The value of honey produced in Ireland in 2014 was estimated at slightly over €3m. The value fluctuates from year to year depending on the climatic conditions during the summer. There are almost 2,500 beekeepers in the country. Over 56% of these have 3 colonies or less whilst only 3% or approximately 70 beekeepers have more than 50 colonies. Only 5 beekeepers have over 150 colonies which many would consider to be a commercial apiary.

One of the major issues facing beekeeping is the issue of bee health and my Department recognises the importance of maintaining and further developing a healthy honey bee population. With this in mind, the signing into law of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 repealed the out-dated 1908 Bee Pest Prevention Act. American Foulbrood and the Small Hive Beetle are both notifiable diseases under the Notification and Control of Animal Diseases Regulations 2014 (SI No. 110 of 2014). While American Foulbrood has existed in Ireland for many years the Small Hive Beetle has never been found in Ireland. In response to the 2014 outbreak of Small Hive Beetle in Italy my Department established a sentinel apiary programme earlier this year. This programme was established with the support of the Federation of Irish Beekeeping Associations and the Native Irish Honey Bee Society. A similar programme has also been rolled out across Northern Ireland. The sentinel apiary programme is designed with the objective of providing early notification in the event that any exotic pest or disease affecting honey bees arrives in Ireland.

In addition, a bee diagnostic service is operated from the Teagasc laboratories at Teagasc, Oakpark in Carlow. Analysis of approximately 300 samples submitted by beekeepers each year are carried out.

My Department also provides grant aid to Beekeepers under the national Horticultural Grant Scheme. The current Scheme is advertised on the Department's website with a closing date of 18 December 2015. In recognition of the smaller scale of beekeeping compared with other sectors of horticulture a minimum investment of €2,000 is required compared to €10,000 for other areas of horticulture.

The Department also provides an annual grant to the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations (FIBKA). The objective is to assist FIBKA meet its operating costs and thereby allow the association promote the craft of beekeeping among its members, including the organising of training courses as well as informing the general public of the role of bees in our environment.