Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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277. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagements he has had with his Cabinet colleagues to support and encourage women farmers. [11764/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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At a European level the number of women in farming has been slowly increasing. 2016 data suggests that, on average, around 30% of farms across the EU are managed by a woman, but with some considerable differences between Member States. The Census of Agriculture 2020 reported that just 13% of farm holders in Ireland are female.

I am very pleased that, for the first time, Ireland’s new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 includes specific measures aimed at increasing the participation of women in farming. Ireland’s CSP, which will deliver some €10 billion to farm families over the next five years, includes innovative proposals to promote gender equality, including:

- An increased grant rate of 60% under the Capital Investment Scheme to fund investments by trained women farmers.

- The promotion of women-only Knowledge Transfer Groups.

- Improved recording and reporting of gender data and the leveraging of the National CAP Network to increase the involvement of all women in the implementation of CAP.

- All CAP interventions will be developed with a gender-aware perspective to ensure there are no inherent barriers to women's participation.

- European Innovation Partnerships offer an ideal opportunity for the sector to develop initiatives that will promote women's participation in farming.

In addition, since 2015, the Department has provided support for rural female entrepreneurs under the ACORNS programme. This initiative involves the development and implementation of a tailored programme to support early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland.

Food Vision 2030, our shared 10 year strategy for the agri-food sector, recognises the importance of gender equality to its long-term sustainability and includes actions to promote and improve gender balance.

One of those actions was to hold a National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture, which I hosted on 1st February this year, St Brigid's Day. The Dialogue was chaired by former Tánaiste and Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, and it examined gender issues in the sector generally via discussion panels, guest speakers and workshops on themes including: Leadership and Visibility; Education and Awareness; Sustainability; and Legal and Financial matters. The outcome of the discussions will be compiled into a report that will inform policy in this regard in the coming years. This will be strengthened by a specific research project on women’s participation in agriculture, and ongoing engagement with stakeholders.

I look forward to making further progress on this important issue and will continue to update my Cabinet colleagues in this regard.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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278. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 163 of 8 December 2022, the status of the establishment of the wool council; if the promised €30,000 for initial set-up costs has been drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11952/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, one of the main recommendations of the Wool Review Report which was published in July 2022, was the establishment of an independent Wool Council led by industry. It is envisaged that the Council would develop and promote Irish wool domestically and internationally and bring together multiple stakeholders to foster collaboration, innovation and scaling activities in the wool sector.

It would also be a forum where stakeholders would further examine and explore the potential uses for wool identified in the Wool Review Report. In support of the Wool Council my Department has committed to providing €30,000 in financial assistance towards the initial set-up costs.

In December 2022, a meeting of the stakeholders interested in forming a Wool Council took place. This group discussed their common aims as well as agreeing to establish an stakeholder led working group to take the next steps in formally establishing the Wool Council. Officials from my Department also attended this meeting to outline the criteria needed to draw down the seed funding of €30,000, which was announced in July 2022.

The next meeting of the Wool Council stakeholder group is set to take place in the coming weeks where it is understood that the draft terms of reference will be presented and nominations for Council Officers will be sought. Once established, the Council will be able to start to drawdown the €30,000 committed as required.

It is my hope that the Council will bring wool stakeholders across Ireland together to achieve more commercially and ultimately generate additional income for the primary producers.

Wool is a tremendous product - it is durable, versatile and sustainable. It is my ambition that the new Wool Council will help drive further value for wool to benefit our sheep farmers.