Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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984. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of herd numbers that have been re-designated as dealer numbers since 1 January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49073/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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A dealer is classified as a natural or legal person who buys and sells animals commercially, either directly or indirectly, who has regular turnover of these animals and who within a maximum of 30 days of buying animals, resells them or relocates them, from the first premises to other premises, not within his or her ownership. “Regular turnover” means the buying and reselling within 30 days of more than 100 bovine or more than 100 swine animals in any 12 month period.

There is no requirement for a herd number to be re-designated as a dealer number. Where an operator meets the threshold for definition as a dealer, as set out above, they are required to obtain a dealer number which is in a specific numbering format so that it is easily identifiable. There is no requirement that a person's ordinary herd number be made dormant if they are also operating as a dealer but there must be complete separation between the dealer establishment and any other farming enterprise

There have been 26 new dealers registered since 1 January 2022.