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Agriculture Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022

Thursday, 10 February 2022

Questions (130)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

130. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 36 of 9 December 2021, the status of the wool feasibility study; the expected timeline for the development of a robust policy roadmap for the Irish wool industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6846/22]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is likely to be aware, one of the initiatives in the Programme for Government was to conduct a review of the potential demand for wool-based products such as for insulation and fertilisers in domestic and international markets.

Wool is a natural substance that is sustainable, organic, renewable and which may be used in a range of products such as textiles, fertilisers, and insulation so it makes great sense for us to see where its potential lies.

I initiated a public consultation in March 2021 to identify terms of reference for the wool review.

The agreed terms of reference were:

- identification of market opportunities domestically and internationally for wool-based products;

- carrying out economic feasibility and cost benefit analysis on proposed market opportunities;

- determining mechanisms that could be used to support industry initiatives;

- identification of potential research projects applicable to supporting the identified market opportunities.

The respondents to the consultation were also asked to make recommendations in relation to prospective market opportunities for wool products on the domestic and international markets. A total of 45 submissions was received from the stakeholders.

The Request for Tenders (RFT) seeking service providers to carry out this study was published on 8th July 2021 through a competitive public procurement procedure. The deadline for submissions was 9th August 2021 and five tenders were received. In November 2021, I appointed 'The Agile Executive,' a consortium of experts from Munster Technological University and Donegal Yarns, to conduct this study.

The Agile Executive has been contracted to conduct the review in accordance with the Terms of Reference and has also been asked to review the submissions received during the public consultation process. I have been advised that this study is progressing well, and the report is due for publication in March 2022.

I am confident that the recommendations outlined in the report will assist in the formulation of a strong policy framework for the Irish wool industry and will hopefully identify new opportunities to create value-add products from Irish wool that are environmentally and economically sustainable and further contribute to the Irish Circular Bio-economy.

Wool is a tremendous, natural and sustainable product and I hope we can add value to it to help reward our committed sheep farmers.

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