Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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32. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to review the current regulations for mechanical grading in beef factories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26491/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently 22 factories operating mechanical classification in Ireland, representing approximately 90% of the national kill. Mechanical grading in beef factories is underpinned by two pieces of EU legislation which came into force in July 2018 and is also governed by S.I. 249 of 2019.

The EU legal requirement for monitoring classification is eight inspections per factory per year which must include a minimum of 40 carcasses at each inspection. In 2020, during unannounced checks, DAFM officers conducted an average of 14 inspections across the 22 mechanical grading factories and classified an average of 100 carcasses at each inspection. These inspection figures significantly exceed the numbers required under the relevant EU legislation.

The role of the Department is clearly defined in the Irish legislation in terms of monitoring and supervision of classification. This legislation is constantly kept under review.