Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1260. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on any engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1495/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department regularly engages with the named organisation on this and other matters.

I am aware that there are delays in the issuing of equine passports. 80% of passport requests are received in quarter four in any given year.

The situation in 2023 was further exacerbated due to changes in parentage verification using genomic testing. I am informed that the named organisation deployed additional resources to deal with the demand. I understand that 3,109 equine passports were issued prior to the end of 2023 and the number of outstanding applications requiring processing in respect of 2023 is now 2,773.

The named organisation have given an assurance that 2023 applications will be completed by the end of this month where DNA analysis results are available. My Department will continue to monitor the situation.