Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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103. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the feasibility of a national wool scouring plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36022/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government committed to examining the feasibility of a wool scouring plant in Ireland. Two research projects are currently underway to assess sustainable approaches to wool scouring in Ireland.

In 2024, my Department announced funding of €574,683 for the SPRING WOOL research project. Among other things, this project is examining the feasibility of a mobile wool scouring unit that is compliant with wastewater regulations. The treatment of wastewater from the scouring process is a major obstacle to the growth of the wool sector. The work is being coordinated by the Munster Technological University.

The second research project, Regenerative Value Systems for Irish Grown Wool in Ireland (REVEIRE), is funded by the Environment Protection Agency. This project is examining the economics of wool production within a circular bioeconomy. Key objectives are to investigate various business models for scalable scouring and to assess the potential for local scouring across the island of Ireland.

My Department will examine the outcome of both research projects which will help inform Government of the feasibility of establishing a scouring plant in Ireland.