Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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460. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to each county under the basic income support for sustainability from 2015 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40489/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) replaced the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in 2023. The BISS is designed to provide a direct income support to Irish farmers to underpin their continued sustainability and viability. While BISS replaced BPS in 2023 as part of the new CAP, some Pillar 1 funding was allocated to the Complementary Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) as well as BISS. Therefore, direct county comparisons between BPS and BISS will show differences.

The amount of funding distributed to each county under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS / BPS) from 2015 to 2024, in tabular form, is provided in the table below.

2025 BISS Payments will commence in October 2025.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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461. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to each county under the horticulture investment schemes (2025), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40490/25]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector is intended to assist in the development of the Irish horticulture sector, including beekeeping, by grant aiding capital investments in specialised plant and equipment. Scheme applicants have until the 31st of October 2025 to complete their projects and submit their completed claims for payment. The table below provides a breakdown by county of the number of approvals issued under the 2025 Scheme and the payments made to date. It therefore does not represent total amounts for 2025.

2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector

2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for Innovation and Diversification in Horticulture (Feasibility / Desk Studies) & the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for Innovation and Diversification in Horticulture (Capital Investments)

These schemes are intended to assist in increasing innovation and diversification in horticulture by grant aiding capital investments in specialised plant and equipment to micro and by funding fundamental studies, industrial studies, experimental development and feasibility studies. Scheme applicants have until 01 November 2025 to complete their approved projects and submit their claim for payment to the Department. The table below provides a breakdown by county of the number of approvals issued under the 2025 Schemes and the payments made to date.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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462. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to each county under the food waste reduction scheme from 2015 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40491/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s Rural Innovation and Development Fund (RIDF) provides funding for initiatives that promote the reduction of food waste generated by food businesses, retailer/wholesalers or suppliers in rural areas.

As the programme does not allocate funding on a county basis, the details as requested are not available. Rather my Department issues calls for funding for initiatives in the food waste reduction sphere in locations that are situated in rural areas outside the administrative boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

The last call for proposals was issued in January of 2024. The successful project was allocated €165,000 for 2024. The current project being funded is the FoodCloud Growers Project which has established a national programme for the redistribution of surplus food from growers, who would not otherwise be able to donate due to cost. In 2024 it was able to donate the equivalent of 560,252 meals to community groups across the country via it's network.

The Department reserves the right to extend this contract for a period of one year with a maximum of two such extensions allowable on the same terms and conditions, subject to the suitability of the initiative, the progress and success of the initiative over the period of the initial agreement and the availability of funding. The contract was renewed for 2025 with FoodCloud Growers Project.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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463. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to each county under the knowledge transfer programme 2024-2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40492/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Knowledge Transfer programme 2024 -2026 builds on the previous KT Programme in the previous CAP and its objectives are to provide support for high quality and targeted advice, while also delivering knowledge and targeted skills to farmers. The programme operates over three years 2024 - 2026 inclusive. KT participant who successfully complete each year of the programme will receive a payment of €750 while the KT facilitator will receive a payment of €500 per participant.

KT participant payments for 2024 commenced on 28 March 2025 in accordance with the commitments set out in the Charter of Rights for farmers. To date, €4.265 million in KT participant payments have issued. My Department expects to commence KT facilitator payments for 2024 in August.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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464. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to each county under the farm safety measure 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40493/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. Following the success of TAMS II, I increased the number of investment items available in TAMS 3. Overall, the scheme has proved very popular, with an unprecedented level of applications received.

The Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme is a measure in TAMS 3, which provides an incentive to farmers to avail of investments to improve their own safety and that of their farm. TAMS 3 opened for applications in 2023. Just over €6.275 million in grant aid has issued to date under FSCIS measure.

The following table sets out the funding received under FSCIS in each county in 2024:

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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465. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to each county under the pig exceptional payment scheme from 2015 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40494/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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[Attachment omitted]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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466. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to each county under the traditional farm buildings grant scheme from 2015 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40495/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme is an annual grants scheme for the conservation and repair of traditional farm buildings and related structures.

My Department co-funds the scheme under the Rural Development Programme and it is administered by the Heritage Council.

The principal objective of this scheme is to ensure that traditional farm buildings and other related structures that contribute to the character of the landscape and are of significant heritage value are conserved for active agricultural use.

The scheme has been successful in conserving over 1,000 traditional farm buildings, ensuring that these structures continue to tell the story of Ireland's agricultural and vernacular history for many generations to come. Emphasis is put on the use of traditional building techniques and materials, so the scheme not only conserves these buildings but also promotes sustainability and the conservation of skills and craftsmanship

In 2024 grant amounts varied between €4,000 and €30,000. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine makes all grant payments on this scheme following certification by the Heritage Council. A grant award will not be for more than 75% of the cost of the works, with a maximum available grant of €30,000. Please note some grants will be for less than 75% of the cost of the approved works.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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467. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to each county under the animal welfare and nutrient storage scheme from 2015 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40496/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. Following the success of TAMS II, I increased the number of investment items available in TAMS 3. Overall, the scheme has proved very popular, with an unprecedented level of applications received. The Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS) is one of the eleven schemes available.

AWNSS in TAMS II opened for applications in 2015, with payments commencing in 2016, while TAMS 3 opened for applications in 2023. Just over €87.4 million in grant aid has issued across TAMS II and TAMS 3 to date.

The following table sets out the funding received in each county from 2016 to 2025 under AWNSS:

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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468. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to each county under the young farmers capital investment scheme from 2015 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40497/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. Following the success of TAMS II, I increased the number of investment items available in TAMS 3. Overall, the scheme has proved very popular, with an unprecedented level of applications received.

The Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS) is one of the eleven schemes available under TAMS. The YFCIS in TAMS II opened for applications in 2015, with payments commencing in 2016. The YFCIS in TAMS 3 opened for applications in 2023, with payments commencing in 2024. A total of over €213 million has issued to date since 2016.

The following table sets out the funding received in each county from 2016 to 2025 under the YFCIS:

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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469. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to each county under the woodland improvement scheme from 2015 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40498/25]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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The Woodland Improvement Scheme, with it's five different elements, gives existing forest owners a wide range of support options to sustainably manage the potential of their forests, to fulfil current and future relevant demands for wood and non-wood products.

The scheme aims to support the growing of high quality and high value round wood timber for the timber industry while also delivering on the provision of ecosystem services such as biodiversity, soil, water protection through targeted support measures for the provision of non-timber ecosystem services.

A total of €5,394,336 was paid under the Woodland Improvement Scheme in the period 2015 to 30 June 2025; a table detailing the amount given to each county is attached.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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470. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to each county under the aquaculture capital investment scheme from 2015 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40500/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to providing supports to the aquaculture sector. During the period 2015-2025 my Department has implemented a number of schemes supporting capital investment by operators in the sector, under the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF), the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund (BAR) and currently under the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).

All of these schemes are administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) on behalf of the Department.

I have asked BIM to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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471. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to each county under the seafood training scheme from 2015 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40501/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to providing the supports necessary to develop the core skills required by those working in the seafood sector, or those wishing to begin working in the seafood sector.

The Seafood Training Scheme is currently implemented under Ireland's Seafood Development Programme (co-funded by the Irish government and EU Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund).

The Seafood Training Scheme is administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) on behalf of the Department.

I have asked BIM to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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472. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding given to each county under the shared island bioeconomy demonstration initiative from 2015 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40502/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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A call for proposals under the ‘Shared Island Fund Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme', was first announced in 2024, offering total funding of €9 million.

Applications under this call were then subject to a rigorous and detailed evaluation by DAFM and DAERA. Contract negotiations with the successful projects are almost concluded and a public announcement is imminent. This will detail the amount of funding per project and it will then be possible to identify the amount on a county basis.