Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

TAMS II measures provide grants for capital investment in physical assets to assist the agriculture sector, including the pig sector, to develop their businesses. An increase in the investment ceiling for the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme under TAMs was a key recommendation from the PISG and this is currently being put in place. Other supports stemming from the PISG's work cover animal health, biosecurity and the LEAN Programme. The Lean Programme for the sector was rolled out in 2019 by DAFM in partnership with Bord Bia, Teagasc and Enterprise Ireland, and has continued to operate in 2020, within the confines of the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2019, approximately one-third of Irish pigmeat exports in value terms went to international markets. My Department continues to pursue the opening of new markets for pigmeat and the enhancement of existing ones in consultation with stakeholders. Currently, Irish pigmeat can be exported to a broad range of international markets including Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, and the USA. In May, the opening of the Mexican market to Irish exporters was achieved. With a population of more than 120 million, the Mexican market represents a substantial opportunity for Irish pigmeat exports.

There are no plans at present to provide an additional financial scheme to support the pig sector. The grade E average pig price for 2020 to date is 8.1% higher than in 2019. Currently, the Irish price stands at €1.63/kg, 10% above the EU average.  

My Department and I will continue to closely monitor the sector on an ongoing basis and, in partnership with all stakeholders, implement appropriate measures as necessary.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (National Pig Identification and Tracing System)(Amendment) Order 2010 (S.I. 364 of 2010) requires that any person who keeps any pigs, must, at least annually, conduct a census on his/her holding, at a time determined by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.  The 2019 Pig Census was conducted on 13 October 2019. 

The information provided below in answer to the Deputy’s question is extracted from the 2019 Annual Pig Census Report, published on my Department’s website at .

The average number of pigs kept on an active pig herd in 2019 was 1,008.

The number of active pig herds per county and the number of pigs recorded per county in 2019 are detailed in the following Table.

Number of Active Pig Herds and Number of Pigs by County in 2019

Note: An active pig herd is denoted as a herd which is currently populated, or reported as having been populated at some stage in the immediate preceding 12 months.