Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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197. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of agri-shows that his Department will fund in 2022. [26843/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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At the outset, it is great to see our network of livestock and agri shows back up and running in 2022 after a two year absence. These shows are hugely important to the farming and rural communities and I am huge proponent of them.

The Department engages annually with relevant representative organisations in supporting the annual farm shows calendar. This is in recognition of the potential for such events in the agricultural calendar to contribute positively to both Ireland’s reputation as a destination of choice for such events, as well as broader economic and social benefits, including benefits to the rural economy and society.

The Department engages via the relevant representative organisation, namely the Irish Shows Association (ISA), in terms of providing relevant funding. This funding is typically utilised to cover insurance costs in respect of the nationwide show's calendar that the ISA organises.