Parliamentary questions

Forestry Sector

Violet-Anne Wynne

107. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the implementation of national forestry policies and programmes is consistent with the growth of the commercial forest estate or if the commercial timber supply risks being eroded over time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18270/24]

Forestry Sector

Claire Kerrane

108. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit to commencing an immediate review of the forestry programme, given that more than six months have now passed since the programme’s inception and the persistently low levels of uptake by farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18244/24]

Environmental Policy

Brendan Smith

109. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current position regarding the inclusion of hedgerows in the assessment of carbon sequestration for the national inventory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18426/24]

Agriculture Industry

Peter Fitzpatrick

263. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of his ‘Backing Rural Ireland’ nationwide tour and meeting with farmers throughout the country, if he has taken on board farmers’ issues in relation to the over-regulation of the sector, specifically in relation to the three-crop rule, ash dieback, retaining the derogation, the duplications on farm inspections, late ACRES payments and the nature restoration law; the proposals he has put forward to the European Commission in relation to the need to reduce the regulatory burden on farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18666/24]

Animal Welfare

Réada Cronin

264. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the State will instigate/increase funding for animal refuges and rescues that are facing spiralling admissions due to a serious increase in the surrender of pets because of the housing crisis and emigration, the abandonment of companion animals due to the cost of living, the extreme and ongoing neglect of horses and the huge costs to those same refuges in facilities, vet services, pet food and hay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18613/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Ring

265. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a reply has not issued to a query submitted to his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18669/24]

Beef Sector

Bernard Durkan

266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of the beef herd at present; the extent to which numbers have fluctuated in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18717/24]

Tillage Sector

Bernard Durkan

267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which cereal growing continues to be attractive in Ireland; if its viability is coming under pressure from other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18718/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

268. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor production costs in the poultry sector, with particular reference to the need to ensure a stable cost base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18719/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to monitor and safeguard the interest of the agrifood sector given the sharp increase in price of inputs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18720/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

270. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which efforts continue to maximise the reduction of carbon emissions in the agrifood sector without reducing production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18721/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

271. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts ongoing by his Department to address issues relating to farmer mental health and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18722/24]

Agriculture Supports

Bernard Durkan

272. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the beneficial effect to the small- and medium-sized farming community of recent supportive measures; the impact on individual farmers under 50 acres and between 50 and 100 acres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18723/24]

Departmental Data

Bernard Durkan

273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which employment has fluctuated in the agri-food and fishing sectors in the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18724/24]

Fishing Industry

Bernard Durkan

274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to ensure the viability of the fishing industry for the benefit of families dependent on the industry; the extent to which further action is required in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18725/24]

Animal Diseases

Bernard Durkan

275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which animal diseases, such as bovine tuberculosis, continue to be eliminated in a meaningful way; the extent to which any breakdowns have occurred by region; the efforts being made to identify the causes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18726/24]

Forestry Sector

Bernard Durkan

276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which it is expected to reach published targets on forestry; when the plan commenced; when it is expected to achieve the proposed targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18727/24]

Farm Costs

Bernard Durkan

277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor the costs of farm inputs, including fuel and fertilisers, with a view to identifying the best way to meet the challenges of issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18728/24]

Dairy Sector

Bernard Durkan

278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which imported dairy products appear to be replacing Irish dairy items in shops and supermarkets; whether this is indicative of a phasing out of the dairy sector in this country, which would have a disastrous effect on the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18729/24]

Beef Sector

Bernard Durkan

279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the beef industry here is being phased out or scaled down to accommodate importation of similar products from overseas who do not have to comply or are willing to comply with climate change reduction measures; the anticipated extent of the effects this is likely to have on the agricultural economy in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18730/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department are aware of the likely damage to the tillage sector in allowing or encouraging flooding or rewetting of the countryside which is likely to lead to a national food shortage in the not too distant future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18731/24]

Animal Welfare

Claire Kerrane

133. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government made a submission to the recent EU consultation on animal welfare during transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18150/24]

Agriculture Supports

Carol Nolan

134. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will intervene with the Minister for Finance to support the extension of the tax warehousing scheme for the farm and forestry contractors sector in Ireland, which has been the most severely impacted by the bad weather since September 2023 and now faces huge cashflow difficulties due to the late spring sowing season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18208/24]

Forestry Sector

Claire Kerrane

135. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit to commencing an immediate review of the forestry programme, given that more than six months have now passed since the programme's inception and the persistently low levels of uptake by farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18237/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Ring

136. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive his TB compensation payment considering that the herd was removed on 14 February last; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18253/24]

Agriculture Supports

Claire Kerrane

137. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with the Minister for Finance on sectoral requests for an extension to the tax warehousing scheme for agricultural and forestry contractors, given concerns around financial and weather constraints on work activity in the agricultural and forestry contractor sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18257/24]

Pesticide Use

Claire Kerrane

138. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers will be penalised for spreading fertiliser that has phosphorus in it, given that many fertilisers have some level of fertilisers in them and considering new requirements to have soil tested before spreading compound fertilisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18279/24]

Veterinary Services

Jackie Cahill

139. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the schedule of fees paid to private veterinary practitioners for TB testing on farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18308/24]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

140. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for figures on the total spend for all forms of advertising in the years 2022 and 2023 in his Department; if figures can be provided on each Department’s spend on local media advertising (print and broadcast respectively, and broken down on that basis) for those years; if the Department used/uses an agency to place advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18385/24]

Departmental Contracts

Carol Nolan

141. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if he or his officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18437/24]

Agriculture Schemes

John McGuinness

477. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process to accommodate farmers that want to withdraw from the young farmers’ scheme; if sanctions or penalties are applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17316/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Claire Kerrane

478. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the processes or measures in place for horses retiring from racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17387/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Sorca Clarke

479. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department's capital underspend, if any, in 2023; and his Department's projected spend for 2024. [17419/24]

Tillage Sector

Claire Kerrane

480. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is considering allocating funding to address the tillage vision stakeholder group report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17486/24]

Tillage Sector

Carol Nolan

481. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports he is putting in place to address the many issues currently impacting the economic viability of the tillage sector; if he has met with farmer representative groups to discuss these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17500/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Michael Lowry

482. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that farmers along the Shannon Callows in Redwood, Ballyea and Ballymacegan, areas of County Tipperary who were greatly impacted by flooding over a minimum of six flood occurrences over the course of dates between 2 July 2023 and 29 September 2023, were not included in the recent compensation scheme; if he is taking steps to address this oversight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17540/24]

Harbours and Piers

Frankie Feighan

483. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for details of piers and harbour funding allocated in an area (details supplied) from 2019-2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17549/24]

Domestic Pets

Michael Healy-Rae

484. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all pets including cats and dogs that have come into the State from abroad have been the subject of the veterinary checks that are required under legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17605/24]

Departmental Data

Peadar Tóibín

485. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of family farms acquired by international investment funds, with the quantity of land by hectares, and farming type when acquired, for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17631/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Martin Kenny

486. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many hectares of land farmers applied for under the hay meadow measure in ACRES 2023; how many hectares of hay meadow his Department paid out to farmers under the ACRES measure for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17663/24]

Animal Welfare

Neasa Hourigan

487. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure the protection of the old Irish goat, which according to reports (details supplied), is being hunted for sport and on the verge of extinction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17669/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Griffin

488. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2023 organics payment will issue to a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17681/24]

Fuel Prices

Claire Kerrane

489. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with the Minister for Finance on fuel excise increases given the financial pressure many farmers are facing at this time and the additional strain higher fuel costs could add; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17734/24]

Agriculture Supports

Marc MacSharry

490. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider the provision of meal vouchers in light of the impact of the inordinate weather on the farming community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17750/24]

Harbours and Piers

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

491. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered approaches to resolving the ongoing issues at Helvick Pier in An Rinn, where the silting up of the harbour prevents the launch of the RNLI boat at periods of very low tide, with obvious consequent safety concerns; if the small fisheries harbour scheme could be amended in order to include works of this kind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17755/24]

Fishery Harbour Centres

Paul Donnelly

492. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the names of each harbour master currently located in each fishery harbour centre under his remit; and when each harbour master was deployed to each fishery harbour centre under his remit, in tabular form. [17807/24]

Foreshore Issues

Michael McNamara

493. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on an application for a foreshore licence (details supplied); if it is lawful to carry out acquaculture activities at the site in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17894/24]

Forestry Sector

David Stanton

494. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1056 of 20 March 2024, to outline the progress made by his Department in presenting the ash dieback action plan for Cabinet approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17899/24]

Forestry Sector

Éamon Ó Cuív

495. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made in relation to a felling licence application by a person (details supplied) in County Galway, given observations from both the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Inland Fisheries Ireland were submitted to his Department over a month and a half ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17901/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

496. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Department can provide a table of afforestation applications received in January 2024 and every month since; if they could send it monthly excluding NTA and felling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17989/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

497. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, due to the collapse in the number of new afforestation enquiries that the industry is receiving from landowners and farmers, if he will now meet with stakeholders to make the necessary changes to the forestry programme to better suit Ireland and promote industry expansion. [17990/24]

Fisheries Protection

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

498. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what research has been carried out on the link between the decline in the sea trout population and sprat fishing in south Kerry; what the allowable by-catch is as a percentage of the total sprat catch in south Kerry; the volume of the total sprat for each of the years since 2007 in south Kerry, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18010/24]

Fisheries Protection

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

499. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the current law regarding mesh size in the brailers for use in the south Kerry region; if the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency monitor the use of brailers to ensure mesh size requirements are being adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18011/24]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

500. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 541, 542 and 543 of 16 April 2024, the annual cost of staffing of the forestry division, forest sector development and forestry inspectorate division for 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, by each respective grade/role, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18063/24]

Food Promotion

Marian Harkin

270. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the application for PGI status for boxty. [17128/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

271. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, with regard to the TAMS scheme, he will consider allowing farmhouse and farm bills to be linked in one bill, allow unused electricity sold to the grid to be offset at full price to electricity purchased from the grid or any other measure which would make the scheme more viable for farmers of all types regardless of the amount of electricity they use as part of their farming activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17157/24]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

272. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of recorded or confirmed dates of fireblight erwinia amylovora infections detections by his Department to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17170/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Ring

273. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the low-emissions slurry spreading scheme will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17240/24]

Tillage Sector

Claire Kerrane

102. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total area of tillage land in the State, in hectares; the number of tillage farms; and the average farm size, in hectares. [16912/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

103. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants under the tillage capital investment scheme; the total area of land; and the average farm size of those partaking. [16913/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

104. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants under the tillage incentive scheme; the total area of land; and the average farm size of those partaking. [16914/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

105. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of extending the tillage capital investment scheme to farmers with less than 15 ha of owned, leased or rented lands. [16915/24]

Departmental Schemes

Claire Kerrane

106. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a breakdown of the total number of applications for the reconstitution scheme for ash dieback; the number of approvals to date; and the total area and the average size of plantations affected by ash dieback that have applied for the reconstitution scheme, in tabular form. [16916/24]

Departmental Schemes

Claire Kerrane

107. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a breakdown of the capital and current funding allocated to the reconstitution scheme for ash dieback in 2023 and 2024, respectively, in tabular form. [16917/24]

Departmental Schemes

Claire Kerrane

108. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of increasing the site clearance grant rates and replanting grant rates under the reconstitution scheme for ash dieback by 10%, 20% and 30%, respectively. [16918/24]

Departmental Schemes

Claire Kerrane

109. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual cost of a 10%, 20% and 30% increase in the area of plantations approved for aid under the reconstitution scheme for ash dieback, in tabular form, for each of the years 2025 to 2029. [16919/24]

Departmental Schemes

Claire Kerrane

110. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of increasing funding for the reconstitution scheme for ash dieback by 1%, 2% and 10%, respectively. [16920/24]

Animal Diseases

Peadar Tóibín

111. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many herds in Ireland have been struck with Johne's disease; if he is aware of any supports for farmers facing this issue; and if he plans to introduce a scheme to help farms keep afloat during this devastating health issue time period. [17036/24]

Aquaculture Industry

Brendan Griffin

112. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when decisions will issue on the renewal of aquaculture licences at a location in County Kerry (details supplied); if licences will be further extended pending decisions on these renewals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17038/24]

Forestry Sector

Pa Daly

531. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to address the issue of fireblight and its threat to native hawthorn trees and hedgerows. [16078/24]

Departmental Schemes

Catherine Murphy

532. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a grant scheme that volunteer lead animal rescue organisations can utilise. [16561/24]

National Archives

Cathal Crowe

533. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that the Irish Land Commission Archive records (details supplied) are made publicly available vis-à-vis the National Archive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16563/24]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Griffin

534. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is his Department that is responsible for granting planning permission for forestry roads exiting onto main roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15983/24]

Departmental Schemes

Louise O'Reilly

535. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of abolishing the parental levy on the school milk scheme; the costs of the levy for each of the past five years inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15994/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Jackie Cahill

536. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the qualifying criteria for the crude protein allowance under banding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16022/24]

Nitrates Usage

Jackie Cahill

537. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will give consideration to the nitrates figure for the preceding year being the determining figure for a farmer's slurry importation the following year, as it will incentivise less-intensive farmers to import slurry and it would be extremely beneficial in balancing soil fertility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16023/24]

Fodder Crisis

Kathleen Funchion

538. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the emergency supports he has provided farmers to increase access to fodder, given the bad weather conditions for farmers across the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16036/24]

Mental Health Services

Claire Kerrane

539. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what supports are in place to support mental health in the farming community; if he has had engagement on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16042/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

540. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on when ACRES balancing payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16048/24]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

541. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of permanent full-time equivalent staff in the forestry division within his Department, by grade, role and function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16052/24]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

542. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of temporary and contracted full-time equivalent staff in the forestry division within his Department, by grade, role and function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16053/24]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

543. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of ecologists recruited to the forestry division of his Department in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16054/24]

Harbours and Piers

Mattie McGrath

544. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will carry out dredging/clearing at Helvick Pier, County Waterford as lifeboats cannot gain access; if his Department will carry out dredging at Dungarvan Harbour also; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16063/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Denis Naughten

545. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration is being given to extending the closing date for the spreading of lime under the liming scheme beyond June 2024, given challenging weather and ground conditions due to the incessant rainfall and the need to close up lands for winter forage as soon as weather conditions improve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16125/24]

Forestry Sector

Claire Kerrane

546. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, with regard to the environmental considerations map layers available via the iNET mapping system which demonstrate the different layers of consideration for afforestation under criteria for the Forestry Programme 2023-2027, he will provide those maps as one combined map with all relevant layers to show a holistic overview of area available for afforestation under the new programme, as previously confirmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16133/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

547. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of outstanding agriculture payments, by payment scheme, in tabular form [16136/24]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

548. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the 4,822 non-coursing greyhounds who were registered on Rásaíocht Con Éireann's RCETS at microchipping stage, but who have never been raced on an RCE-licensed track (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16181/24]

Agriculture Industry

Michael Healy-Rae

549. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16251/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Paul Kehoe

550. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the last payment run was made for those in receipt of a payment (details supplied); when he expects to make the next payment run; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16258/24]

Animal Welfare

Denise Mitchell

551. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any discussions have been had regarding the establishment of an animal welfare unit within An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16309/24]

Harbours and Piers

Alan Kelly

552. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the dates in 2024 where he has visited each of the fisheries harbours under the remit of his Department; and the purpose of each visit, in tabular form. [16411/24]

Departmental Staff

Alan Kelly

553. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of WTE vacancies, by job title, currently at his Department's Laboratory at Backweston; and the estimated timeframe for when each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [16412/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

554. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of successful sheep improvement scheme applicants awaiting payment; the number of payments provided, by county, in tabular form; the number awaiting payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16420/24]

Agriculture Industry

Michael Creed

555. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when proposals to address a longstanding issue for a group of farmers (details supplied) which he has committed to address will be brought forward; the funding required to address this issue; the details regarding eligibility under a proposed scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16502/24]

Marine Protected Areas

Neasa Hourigan

556. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline Ireland's representation and involvement in the 9th Our Ocean Conference 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16520/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Healy-Rae

557. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given allowing farmers to graze their SAC ground in view of the current bad weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16538/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

558. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the minimum tree width acceptable under the native tree area scheme type 2 native forests for water protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16578/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

559. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the minimum average tree width acceptable under the native tree area scheme type 2 native forests for water protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16579/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Marian Harkin

560. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a detailed outline of the reasons for the non-payment of the sheep improvement scheme for 2023 to a person (details supplied); if the person is included in the scheme for the future years of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16593/24]

Forestry Sector

Ivana Bacik

561. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress in promoting the use of cross-laminated timber in construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16654/24]