Written answers
Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Wildlife Conservation
2466. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the research commissioned in connection with the Protection of the Native Irish Honeybee Bill 2021 will be published; and if he... - Pesticide Use
2467. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the merits of implementing a national ban on the use of herbicides by local authorities; and if he will make a... - Farm Safety
2476. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of poultry manure importations from the north; and his proposals to ensure that this can continue to be operated in a... - Animal Welfare
2477. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline any existing rules and regulations in relation to the use of bird scarers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.... - Wildlife Conservation
2478. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will publish the report commissioned by his Department in Galway University on the native Irish honeybee (apis mellifera);... - Agriculture Industry
2480. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the regulations, inspection protocols and guidance currently in place for the prevention and control of fly infestations originating... - Greyhound Industry
2487. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of all dogs whose year of birth was entered on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system... - Animal Diseases
2488. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, given the prevalence of osteoporosis in the egg industry, he will supply statistics on the number, or percentage, of birds that... - Agriculture Industry
2490. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide details on the way in which birds sent to the slaughterhouse are collected and loaded onto the transport truck; if the... - Agriculture Schemes
2491. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of targeted agriculture modernisation scheme or TAMS 3 grants that have been approved to farmers in County Kerry to build... - Public Expenditure Policy
2492. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when finance (details supplied) for the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector will reopen for applications for the finance... - Marine Institute
2493. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he is ensuring that the recommendations from the Marine Institute report 'A Socioeconomic Study of Seaweed... - Fishing Industry
2494. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date on which a recent mass mortality event of farmed salmon took place at a location (details supplied); the number of the five... - Animal Breeding
2495. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department's on-farm badger biosecurity scheme is encouraging farmers to ‘fence off badger setts’,... - Horse Racing Industry
2496. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cause of ‘blood at the nostrils’ of horses during races; and the treatment provided to horses found to be bleeding... - Animal Welfare
2497. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the blocking of fox earths, an integral part of fox hunting is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, given... - Agriculture Industry
2498. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos 626 and 627 of 7 July 2026, whether the conclusion that 'the criteria for making an... - Agriculture Schemes
2501. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue under the 2025 farming for water scheme; the delays on progressing these payments; and if he will make a... - Public Expenditure Policy
2502. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efficiency and reform proposals that his Department has submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure,... - Departmental Communications
2503. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the most up-to-date contact list for queries from Oireachtas members to agencies under his Department, in tabular form. [55573/26] - Animal Sales
2504. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of sanitary and phytosanitary checks which were carried out at designated border control posts here on imports covered by... - Animal Diseases
2506. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the prices paid by licenced approved meat processing facilities on a weekly basis for TB reactors are reported to his Department... - Animal Breeding
2507. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspections carried out at commercial dog breeding establishments in each of the past five years; the number of... - Horse Racing Industry
2508. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspections, investigations and enforcement actions carried out in relation to organised sulky racing events in each... - Greyhound Industry
2510. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of Exchequer funding provided to Greyhound Racing Ireland in each of the past five years; the proportion of this funding... - Animal Diseases
2511. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of badgers culled as part of the bovine tuberculosis eradication programme in each of the past five years, by county; and... - Animal Culls
2512. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made in the rollout of badger vaccinations as an alternative to culling; the number of badgers vaccinated in each of... - Artificial Intelligence
2513. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and proportion of staff who have completed AI-related training programmes since January 2024; the levels of training,... - Agriculture Schemes
2514. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55964/26] - Agriculture Industry
2515. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the public body that is responsible for independently validating the accuracy of milk testing used for payment purposes given that... - Animal Welfare
2520. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when penguins at an aquarium (details supplied) will receive their vaccinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.... - Bord Bia
2521. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the mechanisms in place to ensure departmental oversight into the operations of Bord Bia; and if he will make a statement on the... - Aquaculture Industry
2524. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria used by his Department to determine when an appropriate assessment (AA) is required in respect of aquaculture licence... - Greyhound Industry
2529. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which an Irish non-coursing greyhound (details supplied) is recorded in Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability... - Animal Breeding
2533. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new legislative changes he announced in May 2026 to improve standards for dog breeding establishments and strengthen welfare... - Land Issues
2534. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the basis on which his Department determines that there is “no evidence of farming” on leased commonage lands, in... - Pesticide Use
2539. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to develop a course for spraying pesticides (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56135/26] - Animal Diseases
2540. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of TB herd restrictions imposed in County Clare during each of the past five years. [56174/26] - Agriculture Industry
2541. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual value of agricultural exports originating in counties Clare, Limerick, Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Tipperary. [56175/26] - Agriculture Schemes
2542. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider increasing TAMS funding to €100 million and establishing a separate, fully funded nutrient storage scheme... - Agriculture Supports
2543. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to support generational renewal in farming, including succession credits, improved reliefs and higher grant rates for... - Agriculture Schemes
2547. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will respond to the call from an organisation (details supplied) for increased investment in tillage through a €65... - Farm Costs
2548. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) regarding rising farm input costs, including energy,... - Agriculture Schemes
2550. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide clarity on the proposals from an organisation (details supplied) for a rapid and well-funded fertiliser support... - Agriculture Supports
2553. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the compensation measures that will be made available for farmers affected by flooding on the Shannon Callows who did not receive... - Agriculture Schemes
2554. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify whether farmers and agricultural contractors are required to submit fuel receipts for five months or twelve... - Greyhound Industry
2555. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of WTE sales and marketing executive staff by gender that are employed by an organisation (details supplied) as of 16... - Horse Racing Industry
2556. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of WTE sales and marketing executive staff by gender that are employed by an organisation (details supplied) as of 16... - Horticulture Sector
2558. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the volume of horticultural peat imported into Ireland in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; the... - Farm Costs
2559. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will pay farmers who have applied for the fuel support scheme; and the rate of payment they will receive. [56505/26] - Wildlife Conservation
2560. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the figure of 8,123 referred to on page 6 of the Wildlife Unit End of Year Report for 2025 is incorrect, (details supplied);... - Animal Culls
2564. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to clarify whether the figure of 39% described as new captures in vaccination areas in 2025 refers only to newly vaccinated animals... - Wildlife Conservation
2565. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the numerical, scientific and editorial verification carried out before the Wildlife Unit End of Year Report for 2025 that was... - Animal Feedstuffs
2566. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assessments his Department has carried out on availability of fodder ahead of the winter season; and if he will make a statement... - Veterinary Services
2567. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of vacant WTE staff, by job title in each regional veterinary office, by location, in tabular form. [56580/26] - Animal Culls
2568. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the implementation of the Deer Management Strategy Group's Report from 2023 [56595/26] - Fuel Poverty
2569. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments to successful applicants under the fuel income support scheme will be processed; the date by which these payments will... - Animal Breeding
2570. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his position on the introduction of a cap on the number of breeding females permitted within a dog breeding establishment; and if... - Agriculture Industry
2571. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will establish a cross-departmental approach to support the growth of Ireland’s industrial hemp sector, addressing... - Animal Feedstuffs
2572. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement his Department has had with the animal feed industry regarding increasing the use of Irish-grown grain in in animal... - Farm Household Incomes
2574. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has undertaken a review of the adequacy of maternity leave supports available to self-employed female farmers;... - Agriculture Schemes
2575. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of CAP, ACRES and other farm support payments made to farmers in County Kerry in each of the years 2020 to date in 2026;... - Farm Inspections
2576. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farms in County Kerry awaiting inspection outcomes or payment under ACRES; and the average processing time, in tabular... - Vacant Properties
2577. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of publicly owned buildings that were vacant on the latest date available, broken down by purpose and/or last previous... - Agriculture Industry
2578. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers approved under ACRES, broken down by county; the number participating under the ACRES general and ACRES... - Agriculture Schemes
2579. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of ACRES participants awaiting balancing or scorecard-related payments; the value of outstanding payments; the counties... - Agriculture Industry
2584. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and percentage of farm holdings registered in the names of women; the average size of those holdings compared to holdings... - Agriculture Schemes
2585. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total value of CAP payments received by gender of applicant in each of the past five years; the average payment to each gender;... - Farm Household Incomes
2586. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has undertaken any assessment of differences in farm income between male and female farm holders; if so, the... - Agriculture Supports
2587. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of female participants in green cert and related agricultural education programmes in each of the past five years;... - Agriculture Industry
2590. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the implementation group established to consider the recommendations of the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming last... - Agriculture Supports
2591. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who availed of the succession planning advice grant in each year since its introduction; the total expenditure... - Agriculture Schemes
2594. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the number of active farms not claiming farming entitlements under CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter.... - Departmental Expenditure
2595. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total value of non-compliant public procurement identified within his Department and in bodies under the aegis of his Department... - Artificial Intelligence
2596. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the usage of artificial intelligence within his Department; the categories of usage; the usage of artificial intelligence within any... - Greyhound Industry
2597. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether there are sufficient checks in place to ensure animal welfare standards are adhered to in the greyhound... - Agriculture Schemes
2601. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department and the Government support additional TAMS funding in the upcoming budget in order to increase capacity for slurry... - Departmental Policies
2602. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department have plans to increase investments towards developing suitable markets for the projected increase in organic... - Agriculture Schemes
2603. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to increase combined supports in the suckler scheme to move towards €300 per cow in the upcoming budget.; and if he will make... - Departmental Policies
2606. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there is no single co-ordination plan to deal with the ageing farming population; when he will address this issue; and if... - Agriculture Schemes
2608. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to prioritise access for young farmers to environmental and CAP scheme grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57417/26] - Departmental Reviews
2609. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if progress has been made in sourcing a market for sheep wool; his views on this matter (details supplied); and if he will make a... - Agriculture Schemes
2610. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to establish an emergency hardship fund, including funding for a fodder and tillage support scheme when required; and if he will... - Animal Welfare
2612. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he intends to appoint a dedicated Animal Welfare Inspector for County Mayo; whether he is satisfied that there are sufficient... - Brexit Supports
2615. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will access the Brexit adjustment reserve fund due to the decline in the volume of beef exports to the UK as a... - Animal Welfare
2616. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will establish an independent investigation into the enforcement operation that saw a large number of cattle euthanised, with... - Departmental Expenditure
2617. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated in relation to farm safety in the years 2020 to date, by year. [57938/26] - Animal Welfare
2619. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will instruct his Department to examine a case (details supplied) and ensure that conditions are at an acceptable standard.... - Agriculture Industry
2621. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the Government has set, or is considering setting, national or sectoral targets for reductions in Ireland’s bovine... - National Parks and Wildlife Service
2622. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the measures being taken to manage the increasing deer population in County Waterford and the southeast;... - Departmental Data
2623. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the quantity of fresh and frozen beef imported into the State in each year since 2020, broken down by country of origin; the country... - Food Safety
2624. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures in place to ensure that imported beef, including beef imported from Mercosur countries, complies with all European... - Departmental Reviews
2625. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the independent review commissioned in respect of the Protection of the Native Irish Honeybee Bill 2021; whether... - Departmental Schemes
2626. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he or his Department has formally sought a derogation from European Union State aid rules to facilitate an emergency income... - Departmental Data
2628. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide details of all current derogations, exemptions or special flexibilities available under European Union State aid rules... - Forestry Sector
2630. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of hectares newly afforested in each of the years 2019 to date. [58163/26] - Fuel Prices
2632. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his efforts to alleviate the pressures on famers arising from the cost of green diesel. [58166/26] - Agriculture Schemes
2633. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will establish a dedicated farm succession scheme as part of Budget 2027 to support the progressive transfer of the... - Departmental Reviews
2634. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the requirement that a successor participate in a succession farm partnership for a prescribed period before the... - Departmental Funding
2635. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an independent, multi-annual Exchequer funding stream for the Land Mobility Service, including the... - Departmental Expenditure
2636. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional expenditure that would be required in Budget 2027 to ensure that increased participation in the national beef welfare... - Agriculture Schemes
2637. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the allocation Ireland will receive from the EU agricultural crisis reserve to address increased fertiliser costs, whether the... - Departmental Strategies
2638. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what measures are being considered ahead of Budget 2027 to address the volatile nature of farm income; and if he will make a... - Departmental Consultations
2639. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there were discussions at the recent EU Agriculture Council concerning the funding of CAP post 2027 and the need to ensure... - Agriculture Schemes
2640. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for FISS in Carlow that were unsuccessful; the general reasoning for turning applications down; and if he... - Farm Safety
2642. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budget allocation in 2026 within his Department for farmers to apply for funding to cover the costs of installing farm safety... - EU Presidency
2643. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a detailed breakdown of his Department’s budget for the EU Presidency; the details of any planned gifts for... - Ministerial Responsibilities
2644. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a detailed breakdown of all gifts received in his capacity as Minister; the nature of these gifts and potential monetary... - Departmental Expenditure
2645. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a detailed breakdown of spending on media training or strategic consultants by his Department and all bodies under his... - Artificial Intelligence
2646. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an overview of the AI policy in place within his Department; if AI has been incorporated into any work streams; if AI is... - Departmental Correspondence
2647. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he uses personal emails for Government business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58671/26] - Departmental Schemes
2652. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the publication of the towards a just transition in agriculture and land use report and its recommendations, if his... - Departmental Funding
2655. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the publication of the towards a just transition in agriculture and land use report and its recommendations, if the... - Food Labelling
2657. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when it is expected that PGI status will be approved in respect of boxty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58957/26] - Departmental Reports
2658. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to Parliamentary Question No. 826 of 19 May 2026, if his Department has concluded its overall response to the report referred to in... - Legislative Measures
2659. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following his Department's commissioning of independent scientific research on the native Irish honeybee if he proposes to implement... - Weather Events
2660. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has considered providing additional supports to livestock farmers in Galway east in light of the impact of... - Agriculture Schemes
2661. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to ensure that farmers participating in ACRES in County Galway receive any outstanding payments without... - Weather Events
2663. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether additional financial supports for tillage farmers affected by recent extreme weather events are being considered as part of... - EU Directives
2664. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the recent engagements he and his Department have had with the EU regarding the nitrates derogation; and if he will make a statement... - Common Agricultural Policy
2665. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the recent engagements he and his department have had with the EU regarding possible changes to CAP payments; and if he will make a... - Weather Events
2666. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the recent engagements he and his department have had on formulating an extreme weather event financial scheme for farmers; and if... - Departmental Reviews
2667. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to resource the Agricultural Appeals Review Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59145/26] - Agriculture Schemes
2668. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to streamline the ACRES scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59146/26] - Tillage Sector
2669. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress being made to find suitable replacements for potato desiccants such as a product (details supplied); the results to... - Departmental Data
2670. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of CAP, ACRES, TAMS and other farm support payments made in each county in each of the past ten years; and if he will... - Fishing Industry
2671. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and value of projects approved by Bord Iascaigh Mhara in each coastal county in each of the past ten years, broken down... - Agriculture Schemes
2672. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the current marking scheme applied under the TAMS grant for solar panels, particularly the criterion relating to... - Horticulture Sector
2673. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a breakdown of the financial supports provided in 2024, 2025 and 2026 to date for the horticultural sector, by scheme;... - Departmental Data
2674. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the level of financial support by his Department for the organic farming scheme in each year since 2020; and the number... - Common Agricultural Policy
2675. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the supports available to horticulture growers under the CAP Strategic Plan; to provide a breakdown for the last five... - Departmental Data
2676. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline for each year from 2020 to date, the number of growers paid under the CAP basic income support for sustainability scheme... - Horticulture Sector
2677. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost in 2027 of restoring the horticultural exceptional payment scheme and extending it for soft fruit; and if he will... - Charitable and Voluntary Organisations
2679. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the 100 non-governmental organisations that received the highest levels of public funding in the most recent year for which figures...
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