Parliamentary questions

580. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans to release funding to landowners and local authorities to enable potentially dangerous trees to be made safe and for all trees near power lines and building to be felled and made safe, in view of the number of storms and their impact the country has experienced in recent years; and if he will…

581. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to amend the 2025 scheme of investment aid for commercial horticulture sector to remove the minimum spend requirement so that all affected growers can access support, regardless of financial position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9612/25]

582. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to amend the 2025 scheme of investment aid for the commercial horticulture sector to Increase the level of financial assistance to reflect the true cost of rebuilding and recovering lost crops and to provide emergency aid for loss of earnings, recognizing that farms have lost not only infrastructure but also their a…

583. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when ACRES-Cooperation payments will be issued to persons (details supplied) for 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9629/25]

584. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to ensure that all successful applicants of ACRES and ACRES-Cooperation schemes receive outstanding payments for 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9633/25]

585. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the establishment of the Forest Windblow Taskforce, if the provision of financial supports to affected landowners is under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9661/25]

586. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the establishment of the Forest Windblow Taskforce, if the price for logs will be monitored, following concerns that the prices may drop as a result of the windblow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9662/25]

587. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is an alternative route available for individuals who have been deemed ineligible to complete the green certificate due to holding minor NFQ qualifications; if consideration will be given to introducing a pathway that allows individuals to gain the necessary certification to qualify as a trained farmer; and i…

588. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current average waiting time for approval for native tree area scheme applications; if they are exempt from planning and that applications are supposed to be approved within six weeks; the measures he will take to ensure the six-week target is met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9777/25]

589. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has established an emergency hardship fund to aid farmers affected by storm damage, recognising the catastrophic damage is causing a significant financial burden on farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9801/25]

590. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) is not receiving the full entitlements of the ACRES scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9811/25]

591. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department plans to re-open recruitment and establish a new agricultural officer technical panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9812/25]

335. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will strengthen the enforcement of existing animal protection laws to ensure real consequences for neglect and abuse; if he will introduce stricter regulations on animal ownership, including mandatory microchipping and licensing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8681/25]

336. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures currently in place to protect poultry flocks from an outbreak of avian flu; the measures that will be put in place should an outbreak of flu occur; and the compensation or support that is available to flock owners should culling become necessary. [8694/25]

337. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government intends to provide increased funding for animal welfare groups to provide them with the resources to intervene and provide care in cases of animal cruelty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8700/25]

338. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to strengthen the enforcement of existing animal protection laws to ensure real consequences for perpetrators of animal cruelty in cases of neglect and abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8701/25]

339. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce stricter regulations on animal ownership, including mandatory microchipping and licensing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8702/25]

340. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will establish a Government-funded veterinary services and an education programme to promote responsible animal care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8703/25]

341. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline his engagement and that of his Department with An Garda Síochána in relation to animal cruelty in Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8704/25]

342. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding the development of the National Biomethane Strategy, its progress to date; if there are any revised timelines that may now exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8735/25]

343. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grant aid will be provided to farmers, particularly small-scale landholders whose outhouses/farm buildings were damaged during storm Éowyn; if details of such a scheme will be announced at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8751/25]

344. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 876 of 5 February 2025, if eligibility for back-up power take-off generators applies to all farmers including small beef and sheep farmers; if he will consider providing for fixed diesel generators under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8810/25]

345. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider in conjunction with the Minister for Transport introducing a small grant for example of €60 per km for landowners and farmers to cut roadside hedges and €100 per km to cut roadside trees, ensuring the safety of all road users given increasing strong winds and storms here (details supplied); and i…

346. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the introduction of a farm retirement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8852/25]

347. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the strategy to develop a suicide prevention intervention for farmers in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8863/25]