Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

105. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the ways in which he is supporting Irish wool and developing its market potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36343/25]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

109. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that the prices farmers are receiving for wool is at an all-time low; the measures his Department will take to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36360/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 109 together.

A number of steps have been taken by my Department to support Irish wool and to develop new markets, one of which was 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.

Following publication of the report, my Department allocated €30,000 in seed funding to support 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.

Research will play a major role in helping to add value to wool and my Department has allocated €574,683 in funding to the SPRING WOOL project. This is a Munster Technological University-led research project that focuses on removing obstacles to the sale of Irish wool and providing a springboard for innovation in the sector.

One strand of the research explores the treating of wastewater from scouring wool, while another examines re-purposing waste wool to create compost. The project will also study the use of wool in cosmetics, medical device and healthcare industries.

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

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.

In addition, farmers in the sheep sector are supported by a strong price profile of sheep meat which forecasts for 2025 indicated will remain high but not at the record 2024 prices.

All the steps taken by my Department are with a view to add value to wool by developing new markets and innovative solutions for this under utilised product.