Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1075. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding Covid-19 rules in marts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11466/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, my Department has worked intensively in cooperation with marts representative organisations to ensure that marts continue to be able to operate. I commend marts, their staff and farmers for the resilience they have shown and the speed with which they have adapted to these circumstances.

Livestock marts have systems in place to conduct online auctions and are continuing to operate. Cattle throughput from 1st January to 21st February 2021 was at 94% of the comparable period in 2019 (166,877 versus 177,064 head). Sheep throughput in the same period was at 97% of the comparable period for 2019 (117,103 v 120,963 head).

Online sales reach a much higher number of farmers and agents than in-person sales do. Marts are reporting good clearance rates and robust prices,

This week, I launched the Marts ICT Infrastructure Scheme 2021. Livestock marts can apply to my Department for a grant to a maximum of €5,000 to cover 50% of expenditure by a mart on necessary ICT infrastructure. Further information is available at gov.ie - Livestock Mart Licence Application (www.gov.ie).