Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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861. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total acreage of potatoes sown in Ireland in each of the past five years to date; the plans for expansion in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42070/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The total area of potatoes sown in Ireland has remained relatively stable over the recent period. In 2016 the area sown was 8,945Ha; in 2017 it was 9,067Ha; in 2018 the area reduced to 8,233Ha; in 2019 saw an increase to 8,634Ha and this continued in 2020 with plantings of 8,873Ha.

I am firmly of the view that opportunities to increase the national acreage of potatoes will emerge post-Brexit particularly on the fresh chipping market. To ensure that the sector is well placed to exploit such opportunities, my Department is engaged in the Potato Development group. This group also includes representation from Bord Bia, Teagasc and IFA. Recently, this group has specifically identified the fresh chip sector as an area with huge potential for Irish growers through the ‘Fresh Cut Chipping Potato project’.

The project has two aspects, the first is focused on the technical aspects of producing good quality chipping potatoes that will fulfil the Irish chip shop requirements. To this end, Teagasc has hosted a number of on-farm demonstrations to provide advice and guidance to growers. The second aspect focuses on the market research and promotion of the Irish grown potato. In addition, Bord Bia has produced a video, promoting the quality of Irish potatoes for supply to the fresh chipping market.

Also, jointly funded potato industry and EU promotional schemes have helped to increase consumption of potatoes here and there has been strong evidence of increased sales at retail level throughout 2020.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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862. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to encourage the seed potato industry in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42071/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Under EU legislation, Ireland is one of a small number of areas within the EU officially recognized as a High-Grade Seed Area to produce seed potatoes. This is because the country is free from a number of significant potato diseases that occur in other member states.

My Department continues to support the Irish Seed potato sector by providing significant funding to Teagasc who carry out a very successful potato breeding programme in Oakpark. My Department further supports the seed potato sector through the production of High Grade seed material in the Tops potato facility in Donegal where capacity will be expanded in 2021. In addition DAFM has a nationwide seed certification team to ensure the production of high-grade seed with the capacity to deliver on additional acreage and the laboratory capacity required underpinning that certification process. The certification scheme includes a programme of soil and tuber sampling and testing for pest and disease control. This high quality disease-free seed is made available to the industry for further multiplication and supply to commercial growers and for export.

I am firmly of the view that post-Brexit there will be significant opportunities to increase the production and supply of Irish grown seed potatoes to replace UK imports.  My Department has engaged directly with industry and other stakeholders in raising awareness around the potential implications and opportunities inherent in any prohibition on the importation of seed potatoes from Great Britain from 1 January.