Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to implement the National Women in Agriculture Action Plan to support gender equality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36525/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Advancing the role of women in the agriculture sector is a key priority for me and was included in the Programme for Government. The delivery of the National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture and publication of an Action Plan arising from that dialogue were two major milestones in progressing this aim.

The Women in Agriculture Working Group was established to oversee implementation of the Action Plan. The Group comprises a range of sector representatives to facilitate and guide the progress of the Plan. All 12 actions have been commenced, with six complete or nearing completion and the remaining six progressing well, including:

• The delivery of a series of information and networking events to support women in increasing their knowledge, expanding their networks and engaging directly with mentors to promote increased participation and leadership in the sector.
• A submission to the National Council for Curriculum Assessment, to encourage the incorporation of additional material on women and girls in agriculture in the curriculum.
• A “Women in Agriculture Studies Gender Excellence Award”, sponsored by my Department, awarded in conjunction with the UCD School of Agri-Food & Science in March of this year.
• A review of scheme terms and conditions and eligibility criteria to ensure gender balance and equality of participation by female farmers. A guidance document and checklist have been created for my Department to ensure best practice when formulating scheme documentation.
• A review of my Department’s herd number application process was conducted. Following stakeholder consultation, updated information, a new guidance document and new application forms were published on my Department’s website.
• A dedicated “Women in Agriculture” page has been established on my Department's website as a central information and education resource.
• A “Spotlight on Female-Led Sustainability” booklet has been developed to highlight and promote the contributions of women across the sector, and publication is scheduled for mid-July 2025.