Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the collection of sheep wool from farmers is a priority of his Department as many producers are having difficulty disposing of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25679/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The collection of sheep wool from farmers is a commercial arrangement between the sheep farmer and merchant. My Department does not have a role in collecting wool but I am aware that the price of wool has been at a low level for some time now.

My Department has taken a number of steps to support Irish wool and to develop new markets. This included an in-depth study of the Irish wool market called Review Of Market Opportunities For Irish-Grown Wool Based Products, which was published in 2022.

In support of the recommendations of the report, €30,000 in seed funding was committed to the establishment of the Irish Grown Wool Council, which was launched in 2023. This is an independent, industry-led group that aims to develop the Irish wool brand domestically and internationally and to encourage collaboration and innovation among stakeholders.

Another step has been the allocation of research funding for the SPRING WOOL project. This is a Munster Technological University-led project that focuses on removing obstacles to the sale of Irish wool and providing a springboard for innovation in the sector. The project has received €574,683 in funding and involves different strands of research to develop Irish wool as a valuable, sustainable product.

For example, one application involves treating wastewater from scouring wool, while another examines repurposing waste wool to create compost. The project will also study the use of wool in cosmetics, medical device and healthcare by the extraction of ceramides and keratin from wool.

I am also aware that further research funding of €657,403 has recently been provided by the Environmental Protection Agency to UCC for their Regenerative Value Systems for Irish Grown Wool in Ireland project. Its aim is to re-establish a sustainable wool sector in Ireland to benefit stakeholders along the value chain.

Additionally, my Department is subsidising sheep shearing under the 2025 National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS) which has attracted over 17,000 applicants to date and is worth €22 million to farmers this year.

Scheme participants must complete two compulsory actions, one of which is shearing, and another voluntary action to draw down the full payment of €13 per breeding ewe.

Farmers can select which actions best suit their enterprises within both mandatory and optional categories and will be paid €4 or €5 per eligible ewe depending on the actions selected.

The inclusion of the shearing action in the scheme is an animal welfare measure that will also incentivise farmers to present wool in the best possible condition at the farmgate

I will continue to explore opportunities to support Irish wool and its market potential.