Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1211. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the soil sampling submission will begin again, and for how long it will be open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56833/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I was delighted to announce last October the opening of the second phase of the Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme. This programme opened for applications on 16^thOctober and closed on 10^thNovember 2023. In total 7,000 applicants were approved to participate in the programme.

The Irish Soil Expert Consortium has commenced soil sampling and aims to get the majority of the farms sampled in quarter 1 of this year. Farms that are not sampled in quarter 1 will be sampled in quarters 3 and 4 of this year.