Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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57. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the proposed Wool Council; the terms of reference for this council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9695/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be 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, I 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.