Parliamentary questions

777. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the current level of domestic fertiliser production capacity in Ireland and the steps being taken to reduce reliance on imported fertilisers in light of the volatility and price surges as raised in the Joint Committee debate of 29 April 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36824/26]

778. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the uptake figures for precision fertiliser application technology and low-emission slurry spreading equipment under existing schemes, and whether additional funding or incentives will be introduced to help farmers reduce fertiliser usage without compromising yields; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3682…

779. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has engaged with the European Commission on any flexibilities under the Nitrates Directive or other EU environmental rules that could ease fertiliser-related cost pressures on Irish farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36826/26]

780. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the latest data on fertiliser price trends in Ireland compared with other EU member states and to outline any specific actions his Department is taking to prevent Irish farmers from being placed at a competitive disadvantage as a result of the price increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

781. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific supports available, or that will be made available, to smaller family farms and hill/sheep farmers who face disproportionate impacts from rising fertiliser costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36828/26]

782. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department will commission or publish an independent assessment of the cumulative effect of fertiliser price volatility on overall farm incomes and on the viability of contracting services, as highlighted by an organisation (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Joint Committee meeting of 29 April 2026; and i…

783. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the Government's long-term strategy for stabilising and reducing fertiliser input costs for the Irish farming sector, including any plans for research into alternative nutrient sources or on-farm nutrient efficiency programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36830/26]

784. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will provide the necessary funding to increase the number of specialist food detection dogs to be deployed at ports and airports nationwide. [36836/26]

785. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department plans to post an agricultural attaché to the Irish Embassy in Rome. [36899/26]

786. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to address the plight of Irelands only native honey bee apis mellifera mellifera which is endangered due to the importation of more dominant non-native species of bees, and the loss of habitat; if there is a specific source of funding which would help establish areas with more robust protec…

787. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific safeguards in place to prevent corporate entities or non-active farmers from acquiring agricultural land, obtaining a single basic income support for sustainability (BISS) payment and then qualifying for the 20-year afforestation premium under the revised farmer definition introduced in the mid-term review…

788. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of afforestation licence applications and actual plantings approved to date in 2025 and 2026, broken down by genuine farmers and non-farmers/corporate applicants under the new simplified farmer definition; the percentage of approved hectares that have proceeded to planting in each category; and if he will ma…

789. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking to protect young farmers and those entering or inheriting farms from increased land speculation and competition arising from the 20-year premium incentive now available to any applicant who meets the new one-year BISS active farmer check; and if he will make a statement on the matter.…

790. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current uptake figures and payment details for the €55 million reconstitution scheme for storm damage by storm Darragh and storm Éowyn under the 2023-2027 Forestry Programme; the average grant per hectare paid to farmer applicants to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36929/26]

791. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new active farmer definition for 20-year afforestation premiums fully aligns with the requirements of the basic income support for sustainability (BISS) scheme and will not inadvertently disadvantage part-time, transitional or smaller-scale family farms that have historically supported rural communities; and if …

792. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a detailed breakdown of the €93 million forestry allocation in Budget 2026, including the amounts ring-fenced specifically for farmer premium top-ups, fencing and road grants, agroforestry and reconstitution schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36931/26]

793. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures in place to ensure that the Department’s public land afforestation initiative involving 33 public bodies and 338 hectares does not result in the loss of productive agricultural land or compete directly with the needs of active farmers for grazing or tillage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

794. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the consultation process that will be followed for the development of the next Forestry Programme post-2027; the steps being taken to ensure that the views of the farming sector are given priority over corporate or investment interests in shaping future afforestation targets and incentives; and if he will make a statem…

795. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that the national target of increasing forest cover to 18% by 2050 will not come at the expense of Ireland’s food production capacity or the viability of family farms; the current balance between afforestation and active agricultural land use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36934/26]

796. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding any engagement he has had with an animal welfare organisation (details supplied) in relation to animal welfare measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37033/26]

797. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total level of State funding provided to animal welfare organisations in 2022, by organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37034/26]

798. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total level of State funding provided to animal welfare organisations in 2024, by organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37036/26]

799. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Minister the total level of State funding provided to animal welfare organisations in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37037/26]

800. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total level of State funding provided to animal welfare organisations to date in 2026, by organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37038/26]

801. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the merits of providing multiannual funding for animal welfare organisations to allow for greater long-term planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37039/26]