Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Creed

1251. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will issue a BISS payment to a person (details supplied). [1243/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Niall Collins

1252. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can accept all the ACRES applications he received and not be limited to a certain quantity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1249/24]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1253. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if camper vans are allowed park at fishery port car parks as long as they are not used as accommodation while parked there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1251/24]

Departmental Data

Niall Collins

1254. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a proposal (details supplied) and have his Department contact the promoter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1280/24]

Departmental Staff

Paul Donnelly

1255. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of WTE laboratory analysts in biology employed by his Department as of 1 September 2022 and 31 December 2023, in tabular form. [1291/24]

Departmental Data

Eoin Ó Broin

1256. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether Teagasc was consulted about operating a research farm at Dowth. [1311/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Creed

1257. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive their ACRES payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1344/24]

Bord Bia

Catherine Murphy

1258. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date on which he and or his officials are next due to meet the CEO of Bord Bia. [1359/24]

Harbours and Piers

Richard Bruton

1259. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he received a report on the consultation conducted regarding licensing additional boats for visitor boat trips from Howth Harbour; if so, when a decision on this is likely to be taken; and how the additional slots will be allocated to potential providers of the service. [1430/24]

Departmental Data

Claire Kerrane

1260. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on any engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1495/24]

Beef Sector

Peadar Tóibín

1261. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of beef exported from Ireland in each of the past ten years. [1540/24]

Beef Sector

Peadar Tóibín

1262. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of foreign beef sold in the Irish market in each of the past five years. [1541/24]

Departmental Data

Peadar Tóibín

1263. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Office for Fairness and Transparency in the Agri Food Supply Chain is operational; what staff are currently employed; and to detail work that has been undertaken. [1542/24]

Departmental Data

Peadar Tóibín

1264. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has analysed the increased cost of food production in Ireland over the past five years; if so, the details of these cost increases over the past five years. [1543/24]

Agriculture Industry

Peadar Tóibín

1265. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farms in Ireland in each of the past ten years; how many people have been working in farming full time in each of the past ten years; how many farmers have been working in farming on a part time basis in each of the past ten years; and the number of farmers who have left the sector in each of the past ten years. [1545/24]

Live Exports

Claire Kerrane

1266. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on a matter with regard to live exports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1552/24]

Agriculture Schemes

John McGuinness

1267. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the issues relating to the records of cattle owned by a person (details supplied) will be resolved as a matter of urgency as all information has been provided to his Department by the herd owner. [1598/24]

Agriculture Industry

Claire Kerrane

1268. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with the Minister for Finance on issues arising in relation to VAT refunds for farmers; if he has engaged with representatives from the agriculture sector and sought a solution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1622/24]

Agriculture Schemes

David Stanton

1269. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the number of complementary income support for young farmers applications his Department received in 2023; the number of applications approved and payments made to date; the number that remain to be processed; when he expects the remaining application payments to be approved and paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1660/24]

Forestry Sector

Colm Burke

1270. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to ensure that there is an increase in the overall number of afforestation licences issued for the coming year, in view of the low number of afforestation licenses issued each month for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1708/24]

Forestry Sector

Colm Burke

1271. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the monthly targets for private licenses with ecology input, excluding Coillte felling licences, were below target across all months in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1709/24]

Forestry Sector

Colm Burke

1272. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to ensure that the monthly targets in 2024 for private licenses with ecology input, excluding Coillte felling licences, will be reached each month in view that the number of these licences issued each month in 2023 were well below target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1710/24]

Forestry Sector

Colm Burke

1273. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to ensure that targets are met each month for the coming year across all areas of forestry licencing in the forestry sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1711/24]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

1274. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the greyhound track attendance figures for each of the Shelbourne Park, Enniscorthy and Limerick tracks, on 2, 9 and 16 November 2023, respectively; and if he will provide a breakdown of the figures into paid and complimentary entry, and entry by adults, children, greyhound owners, trainers and bookmakers etc, in tabular form. [1713/24]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

1275. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the greyhound track attendance figures for each of the Curraheen, Kilkenny, Newbridge and Galway tracks on 3, 10 and 17 November 2023, respectively; and if he will provide a breakdown of the figures into paid and complimentary entry, and entry by adults, children, greyhound owners, trainers and bookmakers, etc. in tabular form. [1714/24]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

1276. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the greyhound track attendance figures for each of the Mullingar, Dundalk, Tralee and Waterford tracks, on 4, 11 and 18 November 2023, respectively; and if he will provide a breakdown of the figures into paid and complimentary entry, and entry by adults, children, greyhound owners, trainers and bookmakers, etc. in tabular form. [1715/24]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

1277. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the number of registered non-coursing greyhound owners for each of the years 2013 to 2023 inclusive, broken down by number of dogs registered to each owner for each year specified, in tabular form. [1716/24]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1278. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of reported/recorded lost fishing pots; the number of recovered fishing pots that had been reported/recorded lost on the Irish coast and in Ireland's waters overall for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1723/24]

Tax Exemptions

Niamh Smyth

1279. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review a case (details supplied); and if he can clarify updates on mentioned VAT exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1742/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

1280. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the 20% additional broadleaves required in the new forestry programme under the new forest types can be only one broadleaf species or if a variety of broadleaf species are required under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1747/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

1281. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the 20% additional broadleaves required under FT12 can comprise only one broadleaf species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1748/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

1282. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if alder does not qualify for the deer tree shelter, hare and deer fencing scheme in both plots and as additional broadleaves in other forest type plots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1749/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

1283. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm that the Forestry Service will not fail or ask for remedial actions where deer have damaged or eaten alder planted as additional broadleaves under the afforestation or reconstitution programme as alder is not eligible for the deer tree shelter, hare and deer fencing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1750/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Paul Murphy

1284. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the racecourse track deaths for 2023; and the total number of thoroughbreds sent to slaughter for the same period. [1751/24]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

1285. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what steps have been taken to ensure the safety of the calves at the two control posts in Cherbourg-Pignet and Tollevast, for example if CCTV has been installed; what assurances he can give that Irish calves will be safe, given that this is France and not under the jurisdiction of the Irish authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1762/24]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

1286. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what measures have been taken to ensure calf welfare at marts; if there have been any changes to rules around stocking density in the pens, the provision of food, bedding and water; and what checks are being made to ensure calves staying overnight are fed in the evening and morning (details supplied). [1763/24]

Tax Code

Niamh Smyth

1287. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1769/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

1288. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many farmers are awaiting ACRES co-operation payments; the date farmers awaiting payment under ACRES co-operation scheme will be paid on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1859/24]

Beef Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

1289. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contractual arrangements between a company (details supplied) and an organisation. [1966/24]

Beef Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

1290. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the current contractual obligations of a company (details supplied) are compliant with EU legislation. [1967/24]

Beef Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

1291. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason or by whom a company (details supplied) was selected to work in unison with an organisation, given similar corporations operate here. [1968/24]

Beef Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

1292. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a conflict of interest arises between two independent companies operating on behalf of two different states, competing in the same world beef market industry. [1969/24]

Beef Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

1293. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the interests of a company (details supplied) which primarily promotes the genetics of Angus and Hereford breeds is contrary to the interests of the majority of suckler farmers in developing our preferred continental blood lines. [1970/24]

Beef Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

1294. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the current policy within an organisation (details supplied) on genetics is overly influenced by a private New Zealand corporation whose interests are not in Ireland's world renowned continental blood lines. [1971/24]

Fishing Industry

Peadar Tóibín

1295. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine prior to the announcement of the benefits you brought back to Ireland in terms of increased mackerel quotas from Denmark, if the Danes made any attempt to make any other offers to him, and if they made any communications to him. [1994/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

1296. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the up to date position regarding the issue of payments under ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2095/24]

Departmental Data

Peadar Tóibín

1297. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the amount of foreign peat-based products been sold in Ireland in each of the past five years. [2155/24]

Forestry Sector

Claire Kerrane

1. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on his engagement with the forestry sector regarding concerns around the limitations the new forestry programme rules will have on afforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55423/23]

Beef Sector

Alan Kelly

2. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the reasons to delay 60% of agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, applicants payments until February 2024; what discussions there were with farmers and stakeholders; if he will ensure that payments are made before Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55988/23]

Beef Sector

Claire Kerrane

3. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on concerns raised around the suckler efficiency carbon programme and the recent changes to the beef index; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55424/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Holly Cairns

4. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department will make efforts to deliver ACRES payments to participating farmers without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56100/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

5. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projected financial loss to the vessels of the Irish fishing fleet arising from the actions of the UK and Scottish Governments in blocking them from fishing in their traditional fishing grounds around Rockall for the past number of years; and to provide an update on the status of negotiations with the UK and Scottish Governments, aimed at finding a resolution. [55295/23]

International Programmes

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

6. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to report on his attendance at the food, agriculture, nature and land use thematic days of COP28; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55710/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approval will issue in respect of TAMS applications relating to animal welfare-related investments and the construction of slurry and manure storage facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55733/23]

Teagasc Activities

Alan Farrell

8. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the development of the centre for sustainable animal and grassland research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55511/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

9. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approvals will issue in respect of TAMS applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55732/23]

Fisheries Protection

Christopher O'Sullivan

10. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider a ban on fishing for sprat, which is not intended for human consumption, in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55810/23]

Animal Carcase Disposal

Michael McNamara

11. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will promulgate emergency interim measures to allow farmers and knackeries to dispose of dead animals in light of their accumulation, with the resultant risk to sanitation, due to the strike by renderers since 1 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55812/23]

Live Exports

Brian Leddin

12. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to fulfil the programme for Government commitment to increase the veterinary presence available on all live export consignments to third countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55708/23]

Exports Growth

Bernard Durkan

13. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains confident for the dairy, beef, lamb and pig meat sectors, as well as the cereal sector, into the future; the areas in which competition is most likely anticipated on international markets; the extent to which the industry can meet these challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55725/23]

Citizens' Assembly

Paul Murphy

14. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the impact that inserting the rights of nature into the Constitution would have on agriculture; whether he supports the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity’s proposal to hold a referendum on the rights of nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55790/23]

Inshore Fisheries

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

15. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the immediate financial support measures he can put in place for the Irish inshore fishing sector to address the deepening crisis in the industry that is threatening the livelihoods of inshore fishermen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55722/23]

Beef Sector

David Stanton

16. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent publication of the new bull replacement and terminal index ratings by an organisation (details supplied); the potential impact this could have on beef suckler farms and the suckler carbon efficiency programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55528/23]

Teagasc Activities

Peadar Tóibín

17. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has conducted any research into the reasons the number of Teagasc graduates attaining trained farmer status has been declining in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55429/23]

Organic Farming

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

18. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers in Carlow are benefiting from the organic farming scheme or other supports for the organic sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55640/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

19. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action he intends to take to address delays to ACRES payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55410/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Cathal Crowe

20. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details on when farmers who are participating in the ACRES co-operative scheme can expect to receive their payments. [55634/23]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

21. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied that Irish farmers and the agrifood industry in general remain safeguarded into the future, notwithstanding competition, restrictions and-or requirements in regard to land rewetting, given the extent to which moisture abounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55724/23]

Beef Sector

Rose Conway-Walsh

22. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied) on rating changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55815/23]

Forestry Sector

Claire Kerrane

23. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the publication of a strategy to address ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55407/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Verona Murphy

24. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what measures his Department is taking to ensure the expedition of ACRES payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55793/23]

Wastewater Treatment

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

25. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to support and help deliver the establishment of more integrated constructed wetlands on farms nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55381/23]

Animal Welfare

Pádraig O'Sullivan

26. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will be allocating additional funding through the Animal Welfare Grant Programme to animal welfare charities given the unprecedented number of surrenders they are dealing with at present, in addition to the increased cost of running animal welfare and animal rescue organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55296/23]

Just Transition

Darren O'Rourke

27. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to report on the progress to establish an implementation group for a just transition in agriculture, as recommended by the NESC report on the just transition in agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55737/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Ruairí Ó Murchú

28. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views regarding the capital investment scheme support for renewable energy investments as part of the CAP Strategic Plan; if said support can be expected to continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55700/23]

Beef Sector

Violet-Anne Wynne

29. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the new EuroStar evaluation for suckler cows and stock bulls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55828/23]

Forestry Sector

Matt Carthy

30. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of land afforested in 2020, 2021, 2022, and to date in 2023; the Government target for forestry licence output in 2023; the number of licences issued; the number of afforestation licences issued in 2023; the total hectarage of land licensed for new afforestation in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55510/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

31. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for significant delays in the issuance of ACRES payments to many farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55827/23]

Departmental Strategies

Darren O'Rourke

32. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to report on the progress of the delayed biomethane strategy; and if he anticipates it will be published before the end of 2023. [55736/23]

Departmental Bodies

Catherine Connolly

33. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 78 of 26 October 2023, for an update on the work of the wool council; if the €30,000 in Departmental funding has been drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55641/23]

Beef Sector

Niamh Smyth

34. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to assist suckler farmers on the ratings issue for animals with the new SCEP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55441/23]

Labour Market

Verona Murphy

35. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what steps his Department is taking to address the skills and labour shortages currently facing the agricultural sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55795/23]

Departmental Strategies

Colm Burke

36. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline in detail the progress that his Department has made to date, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, in the creation of a national biomethane development strategy plan through the new built environment and heat delivery task force; when it is envisaged that this strategy will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55311/23]

Exports Growth

Bríd Smith

37. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any consideration or study was undertaken by his Department or any other Department in relation to his recent trip to Korea and the proposed expansion of beef exports, in reference to the climate impact of such an expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51600/23]

Animal Diseases

Colm Burke

38. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to reduce the timeline from when livestock in a herd have been tested and identified positive with tuberculosis and when these animals are removed from the herd, in view that the current average timeline is 17.3 calendar days from the date of test to the date of removal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55312/23]

Food Industry

Richard Bruton

39. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider the possibility of developing, along with other Ministers, a circular compact across the food sector, aimed at designing out the negative environmental features all along the supply chain, from primary production to unnecessary waste. [55783/23]

Farm Costs

Peadar Tóibín

40. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has been monitoring fluctuation in the cost or price of farm fertiliser; and if he will outline the supports there are to support farmers struggling with the cost of fertiliser. [55428/23]

Food Industry

Alan Farrell

41. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of his Department’s efforts to improve food production sustainability in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55512/23]

Beef Sector

Matt Carthy

42. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers participating in suckler beef support schemes in 2020; the number participating currently; his proposals to improve participation; and the impact he believes recent beef index changes will have on suckler farmers. [55509/23]

Departmental Policies

Éamon Ó Cuív

43. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the research being carried out into possible uses for wool, which at present hardly pays for the shearing costs although it has huge possibilities for a multiplicity of uses because of its natural qualities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55633/23]

Animal Welfare

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

44. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason organisations in Carlow were not included on the list of funding for animal welfare charities announced recently. [55639/23]

Agriculture Industry

Claire Kerrane

45. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on plans to change existing rules around herd owners and herd keepers, given the impact the current process has on women in agriculture and young farmers in farm partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55408/23]

Agriculture Industry

Richard Bruton

46. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail the research being undertaken into the quantification and reward of environmental services generated by actions at farm level to allow water tables rise on organic soils, to switch from livestock to forestry; and whether this can lead to a more extensive financial framework than the present ACRES scheme. [55782/23]

Fisheries Protection

Catherine Connolly

47. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 16 November 2023, the status of plans for the introduction of measures to protect the sprat fishery, which is concentrated within the six-nautical-mile zone; if he has received the updated scientific advice from the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara to date; his plans for the publication of this advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55642/23]

Agriculture Supports

Claire Kerrane

48. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the proposal to bring forward a solution for the group known as ‘forgotten farmers’, given details of the scheme were supposed to be published in quarter 1 of 2023 and a further follow-up was promised in May 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55409/23]

Beef Sector

Pauline Tully

49. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is concerned with the latest evaluation changes by an organisation (details supplied) which has greatly devalued some cattle breeds; if he will address this issue by requesting a rollback to the previous evaluation until full clarification is received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55819/23]

Departmental Meetings

Paul Murphy

50. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what engagements he and his officials had with meat and dairy industry lobbyists in relation to his attendance at COP28; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55787/23]

Land Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

51. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any assessment has been carried out into the effect of land abandonment in Ireland; the amount of land now not been actively used or farmed; the possible negative impact it could have on the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55632/23]

Coillte Teoranta

David Stanton

52. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he is supporting Coillte in its new Forestry Strategy and Strategic Vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55638/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael McNamara

53. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will instruct his Department to make interim, part payments immediately to farmers in ACRES tranche one, following the announcement by his Department that it will not pay monies out on this scheme until February 2024, in view of farmers’ reliance on the scheme payments to pay end-of-year bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55791/23]