Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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407. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reissue a national survey on allotments and community garden provision to all local authorities to give a national overview of the provision of allotments and community gardens across Ireland, following figures released by FOI in April 2025 that only 16 out of 31 local authorities responded to the national survey issued by his Department in 2024, and which includes no responses from any local authority in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62642/25]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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My Department issued a survey on allotments and community garden provision to all Local Authorities on 29th February 2024. This survey sought to gather information in respect of an action outlined in the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027, namely to "Work with local authorities to implement and support community gardens and allotments to encourage enthusiasm for gardening / growing and promote fresh produce consumption and healthy eating".

While my Department has no responsibility for the provision of or funding of community gardens or allotments, the survey was issued to better understand allotment and community garden provision across the country. Whilst this was a voluntary survey, several reminders were issued to prompt engagement from those local authorities that wished to respond.

Following analysis of the survey results, my Department facilitated two successful workshops with rural and city local authorities from across the country in June and September 2024. These workshops provided a forum to exchange best practices, form connections, identify funding sources for community gardens and allotments in pursuit of the action in the National Strategy for Horticulture. Accordingly, my Department will not be reissuing the survey.