Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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24. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the wool feasibility study; when the final report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51540/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Wool production is an important component of agri-industry. There are approximately 46,332 sheep flock-keepers registered on the Department’s database and Department officials oversee and inspect 50 approved and registered wool stores where the wool is held while awaiting sale. 

Wool is a sustainable, organic, renewable natural material which can be used in a wide range of products such as textiles, fertilisers, insulation and packaging.

One of the actions under the Programme for Government is to undertake a review of the potential demand in domestic and international markets for wool based products such as insulation and fertilisers.  

Following the allocation of €100,000 in Budget 2021 for this review, I initiated a public consultation process in early March 2021 to determine the terms of reference for such a review which included

- the identification of market opportunities domestically and internationally for wool based products;

- carrying out economic feasibility and cost benefit analysis on proposed market opportunities;

- determining mechanisms that could be used to support industry initiatives; and

- identification of potential research projects applicable to supporting the identified market opportunities. 

As part of the public consultation process, I also invited stakeholders to submit their proposals on the potential market opportunities for wool products on the domestic and international markets and over 40 submissions were received.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that through the competitive public procurement procedure, the Request for Tenders (RFT) seeking service providers to carry out this major study was published on the e-tenders website on 8th July 2021.

The closing date for submissions was 9th August 2021.  Five tenders were received.  The successful service provider, who will be announced shortly, will be contracted to carry out a feasibility study in accordance with the Terms of Reference  detailed above and will be also required to examine and evaluate the  proposals received during the public consultation and report on their findings.

The time frame for the completion of the review including the consultation with the stakeholder group which I am establishing and publication of the final report is end of January  2022. 

The recommendations from this review will help focus the development of a robust policy roadmap for the Irish wool industry.