Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 December 2021
224. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the increased resources provided to his Departments seed certification team in order to increase domestic capacity to produce seed potato in response to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59289/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware the average area of seed potatoes certified in Ireland for the years 2016 - 2020 was 231 hectares, ranging from 203 hectares in 2019 to 253 in 2016.
The area for certification in 2021 increased to 299 hectares giving a 29% increase over the mean of the previous five years.
The Department has sufficient staff resources assigned to the inspection and certification of seed potato crops. In the event that there is a significant increase in the area of seed potatoes entered for certification in 2022, as a result of the reduction in imports following Brexit, my Department is committed to ensuring that adequate resources are made available to certify the additional area.
My officials are monitoring the area to be entered for certification in 2022.
