Horticulture Sector

433. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of commercial horticultural growers operating in the State in each year from 2020 to 2026, inclusive; the net increase or decrease in grower numbers since the publication of the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023–2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54400/26]

438. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measurable targets contained within the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023–2027 that have been achieved to date; which targets remain behind schedule, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54763/26]

2. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to support the growth of Ireland’s horticulture sector in budget 2027 (details supplied). [52390/26]

20. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to address the reported imminent crisis in the horticultural sector linked to uncertainty over peat supply and regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51542/26]

43. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department is taking to stop the further decline of horticulturalists in Ireland; the additional supports he is considering to incentivise growth in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52308/26]

83. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider introducing a targeted support package to assist farmers with escalating gas and energy costs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35916/26]

1163. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the reason horticulture is not a qualifying sector for funding from Enterprise Ireland; if this can be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25923/26]

2273. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial supports available to people in the horticulture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25921/26]

78. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in light of warnings from EU farm organisations that the price of EU-produced fertilisers has increased by approximately 25% in the past month compared with the 2024 average, and given that fertilisers account for between 15% and 30% of horticulture farmers’ input costs on average, the steps he is taking to suppor…

115. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department is taking to support the establishment of commercial vegetable growing businesses in Ireland, considering that we had up to 600 in the 1990's and there are now less than 100 nationwide with the announcement of liquidation by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement o…

123. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he supports a drive to see the horticulture industry become eligible for Enterprise Ireland funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20938/26]

109. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a dedicated funding stream or expand grant supports for domestic fruit and vegetable growers, given Ireland's heavy reliance on imports in these sectors, a situation that is unsustainable in the long term; the measures being taken to strengthen local horticultural production and national food…

1218. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will instruct his Department to prepare legislation to ban the sale of Cherry Laurel in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46054/25]

1219. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department undertakes studies on the damage done by Cherry Laurel to biodiversity and environment in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46055/25]

1239. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason cherry laurel (prunus laurocerasus) has not yet been added to Ireland's List of National Concern under the 2024 Invasive Alien Species Regulations, despite being recognised as a high-risk invasive species by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the National Biodiversity Data Centre, Coillte and t…

1255. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason cherry laurel (prunus laurocerasus), despite being recognised as a high-risk invasive species by NPWS, NBDC, Coillte and the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, has not yet been added to Ireland’s List of National Concern under the 2024 Invasive Alien Species Regulations. [46497/25]

2148. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date by his Department to add new people into the Irish horticulture sector, as per the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44143/25]

1126. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider a ban on the general sale of wasp poisons given the danger of their use against bees and the need to protect bee populations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30199/25]

4. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will provide direct financial assistance to the horticulturalist sector to compensate for crop damage and income loss post-storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13624/25]

8. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department increase the minimum grant aid rate within the 2025 scheme of investment aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector to 60%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13627/25]

16. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the development of wine production in Ireland; the supports available from his Department and agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13681/25]

22. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to support the Irish mushroom sector. [13714/25]

38. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will provide targeted financial assistance to horticulturalists who do not meet the €7,500 minimum investment requirement under the 2025 Scheme of investment aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13625/25]

51. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will provide targeted financial assistance to horticulturalists for the replacement of plastic polytunnel covers and other structures not covered under the 2025 scheme of investment aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1362…

228. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the Programme for Government's commitment to implement geographic protection for strawberries. [16121/25]