Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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1250. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on correspondence from and engagement with an organisation (details supplied). [16286/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I fully acknowledge the important contribution bees make to agriculture and biodiversity as both pollinators and honey producers. In this regard, my Department provides a range of supports and initiatives to encourage and assist beekeepers and the national beekeeping associations. These supports include funding to carry out applied research through the National Apiculture Programme, grants to national beekeeping associations and grant aid to fund capital investments for beekeepers. My Department has funded a number of studies under the Genetic Research Grant Aid Scheme looking at various aspects of this honeybee species and specifically apis mellifera melliferra. In 2021, funding has been allocated for an innovative queen rearing project.

My officials are in regular contact with the Federation of Irish Beekeeper Associations (FIBKA) to discuss various issues including the DAFM Grant Aid Scheme for Horticulture including Beekeepers, the Annual Beekeeping Federation Grant, the 2020 Beekeeper Survey, the 2020 Honey Output Estimates, the Sentinel Apiary Programme for the early detection of exotic pests of the honey bee, veterinary medicines information for bees, the incidence of Foulbrood in Ireland in 2020, the importation of bees into Ireland, beekeeper registration and the new animal health regulation 2016/429 and consultation on the new National Apiculture Programme.

I fully appreciate the efforts FIBKA make in relation to beekeeping.