Questions

2232. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeline for the establishment and operation of the pilot land observatory referenced by stakeholders at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food on 4 March 2026; the proposed quarterly data outputs on land movements, ownership types, including dairy, beef and renewable energy and the definition of a family farm; and if…

2233. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and duration of long-term land leases entered into by energy companies or renewable developers on agricultural land over the past five years, broken down by county with particular reference to Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25100/26]

2234. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the concerns expressed at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food on 4 March 2026 regarding the growing pressure from the energy sector on agricultural land leases and availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25101/26]

2235. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department is taking to protect prime agricultural land in Offaly and nationally from conversion to non-food production uses such as solar, wind or other renewable energy developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25102/26]

2236. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to address increasing corporate, institutional and foreign control of Irish farmland as highlighted in the land availability discussion at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food on 4 March 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25103/26]

2237. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current average price of agricultural land in County Offaly; the way in which it compares to the national average; the extent to which consolidation and long-term leasing is reducing availability for active family farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25104/26]

2238. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional supports available or planned for young farmers in Offaly seeking to purchase or lease land in light of the availability challenges and farm consolidation trends raised at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food on 4 March 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25105/26]

2239. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his position on the issue of productive agricultural land being tied up in long-term leases to entities outside the active farming sector, as discussed at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food on 4 March 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25106/26]

2240. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent of coordination between his Department, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on land-use planning to prioritise food security and family farm viability over other competing uses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25107/26]

2241. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on any proposed legislative or policy changes to improve land mobility and availability for active family farmers and to equip any future land observatory with sufficient powers to intervene in cases of excessive consolidation, as advocated by stakeholders at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food on 4 M…