Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1591. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to ensure an adequate supply of fencing for agricultural purposes in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13823/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Fencing can be used for a wide range of agricultural purposes. Based on a total supply of between 12 and 15 million stakes per year, the demand between TAMS and ACRES is about 10% to 14% of the market.

It is not anticipated that there will be any significant shortfall in the supply of timber fencing posts in 2023.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1592. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of any need for fencing in equine settings to be creosoted; the basis of such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13824/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There is a requirement in the Department’s specification S.148: Minimum specification for farm fencing, that timber equine fencing is required to be treated with creosote. The aim of this requirement is to reduce the level of cribbing by horses of the timber elements, in particular timber rails in post and rail fencing. Cribbing is where a horse will chew on a timber piece, in particular the rails of post and rail fencing. Not all horses will undertake this activity and some horses have been know to crib creosote treated timber, however, the use of creosote significantly reduced any cribbing activity.

The Department is currently updating specification S.148 to remove the requirement for timber elements in equine fencing to be creosote treated. There is no equivalent requirement in the Irish National standard I.S. 437: Horse and stud fencing — Timber post and rail.