I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am glad to have the opportunity to discuss the first home scheme. The scheme, which was launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme for eligible first-time buyers, eligible home buyers and self-builders. The scheme is designed to help bridge the gap between their deposit and mortgage and the price of their new home. The price of the new home must be within price ceilings established across the country. This has been a very successful scheme that has helped thousands of individuals and families buy a home. Over 7,600 approvals have been issued since the scheme launched to the end of last month with 3,691 homes already bought or built using the scheme. We want to expand on this success and help more people get their own home. In May, the Government approved an additional €30 million for the scheme bringing the total State commitment to €370 million. This is matched 50:50 by the participating banks and brings the total commitment to the scheme to €740 million. The first home scheme designated activity company, DAC, is fully responsible for the operation of the first home scheme on behalf of all shareholders, including price ceiling reviews. The first home scheme board conducts a review of price ceilings at six-month intervals. I am advised that the board takes into account a range of factors as part of these reviews, including the median price and volume of new builds purchased by first-time buyers in each local authority area. The most recent review concluded at the end of last month and 16 local authority areas had their price ceilings increased. When the scheme was first launched in July 2022, the price ceiling for the Tipperary local authority area was €250,000. This has been raised following two subsequent price ceiling reviews to €325,000 on 1 January 2023 and then again to €350,000 on 1 July 2024. The first home scheme DAC will continue to monitor the price ceilings, including in Tipperary, as part of any future review. More information on price ceiling reviews is available on the website of the first home scheme.
Sentiment score: 0.30
I assure the Deputy that the price ceiling review being undertaken on the first home scheme is done so in a considered manner. To minimise the risk of price distortions in the first-time buyer market, the first home scheme introduced the concept of price ceilings and six-monthly reviews of the ceilings from the outset of the scheme. I understand that all local authorities, including Tipperary and its surrounding local authorities, are considered in these reviews. The reviews reflect local market conditions by taking into account a number of factors, including the median price and the volume of new builds purchased by the first-time buyers. The Deputy made a valid point that if there is a distorted number of new homes because of affordability, that will distort one of the key factors taken into consideration. He made that point quite forcefully. I give an undertaking that I will bring it back to the Minister to see whether that can be taken into the next review. The one positive here is that it is a six-monthly review so we will not be waiting indefinitely. The first home scheme commissions periodic research by KPMG to assess the extent, if any, to which the State has contributed to house price inflation. KPMG reports in both 2024 and 2025 concluded there was no evidence the scheme materially contributed to price inflation in new homes. It was also stated it remains critical the first home scheme monitors this risk on an ongoing basis. These regular price ceiling reviews will help to ensure that it does not contribute to new home price growth as the uptake of the scheme grows. This is an important scheme to help people buy a home, as the Deputy alluded to, and with affordability, especially for - unfortunately I cannot say my generation any more - the Deputy's generation in terms of their ability to get on the property ladder. The Government is determined to continue to support people into homeownership. The Deputy made some very valid points and I undertake to refer them to the Minister, Deputy Browne, and his departmental officials for direct reply back to the Deputy.
Sentiment score: 0.08
I thank the Deputy. Ireland is among the most food secure countries in the world and, according to the latest Global Food Security Index, ranks second of 113 countries assessed for food security. The resilience of the food supply chain was clearly demonstrated over the past number of years when dealing with the effects of Brexit and Covid-19. Currently Ireland produces significantly more food than we consume. The Irish agrifood sector is globally orientated, with approximately 90% of Irish beef, sheepmeat and dairy produce exported each year. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland is part of the EU Single Market and participates in the Common Agriculture Policy, which is the key mechanism for ensuring food security throughout Europe. The EU is largely self-sufficient for many agricultural products but is a considerable net importer for specific products. The current geopolitical situation is challenging established assumptions on food security. The EU communication, Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems, sets out actions in the three areas of security, stability and sustainability. The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers will continue to focus on these core areas and to support the work of the European food security crisis preparedness and response mechanism. The agrifood sector drives economic growth in every rural parish in every county in Ireland, as the Deputy alluded to. It reaches out from every corner of the country to global markets. It includes primary production in farming, fishing and forestry and the processing and manufacture of food, beverages and wood products. Agrifood is Ireland’s largest indigenous exporting sector and accounts for 6% of modified gross national income and 8.6% of merchandising exports in value terms. The sector employs 169,300 people, representing 6.1% of total employment, which translates to one in every 16 jobs, and of course a far greater proportion in rural constituencies like mine and the Deputy's. While the last few years have been challenging for the sector, as significant energy price rises and supply chain disruption fuelled inflation and contributed to increased input prices and decreases in output prices, our farmers, fishers, processors and food businesses have demonstrated the resilience of the agrifood sector. Ireland's approach to delivering sustainable agriculture and food is set out in Food Vision 2030, our shared stakeholder-led strategy for the continuing development of the agrifood sector in Ireland. Its vision is for Ireland to be "a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems", encompassing environmental, economic and social sustainability. It was designed using a food systems approach, recognising the requirement to have greater policy coherence across agriculture, food, and the environment and the involvement of all of the food system stakeholders. The centrality of primary producers in Food Vision 2030 recognises economically sustainable farmers, fishers and forest owners are an integral part of our rural and coastal community and of our natural environment and landscape. It recognises that healthy environments, ecosystems, communities and economies go together. Irish agrifood exports reached a record €19.1 billion in 2024, which is an increase of over 5% by value on the €18.1 billion achieved in 2023 and an increase of a third by value, that is, €4.8 billion, on the €14.3 million achieved in 2020. This represents 40% of all exports from Irish-owned firms. With highly competitive global markets, the agrifood sector works hard to protect its reputation and continuously strives to innovate and maintain a level of competitiveness and resilience that has enabled it to prosper and develop in a globalised trading environment.
Sentiment score: 0.35
Food Vision 2030 looks to protect and build on Ireland's global reputation as a trusted supplier of high-quality, safe and sustainable food to consumers both at home and abroad. As I noted, 90% of what we produce is exported. Irish agrifood has been successful in accessing and developing new market opportunities both locally and in the international markets. Diversifying and developing markets will continue to be a priority. Our new Ministers are working very hard in this area. Food Vision 2030 aims for the sector to reach €21 billion in exports by 2030, with this growth driven by a steady growth in export value rather than volume. The strategy recognises the challenges but also the opportunities and has a clear vision of Ireland being a world leader in sustainable food systems. The Government continues to support farmers under the €9.8 billion CAP strategic plan and via specific sectoral supports. It is very positive to see the Teagasc national farm survey preliminary results estimating that the average farm income in 2024 rose by 87%, with the 2025 income forecasts also positive. These are real present-day figures.
Sentiment score: 0.46
Food Vision 20230 provides a vision of a dynamic, sustainable and innovative agrifood sector ready to adapt and embrace change for a more sustainable future. It is a strategic framework that enables Ireland's agrifood sector to work to achieve its ambition as a world leader in sustainable food systems. The Deputy has a made a number of points. He will appreciate this is not my area of expertise. I will relay his points to the Minister and Ministers of State at the Department of agriculture. The Deputy has a direct line to one of the Ministers of State and I have no doubt he will raise the matter with him.
Sentiment score: 0.14
I am taking this important issue, which the Deputy set out so passionately, on behalf of the Minister for agriculture. The Veterinary Council of Ireland announced in April 2024 that it had updated its code of professional conduct for veterinary practitioners to prohibit veterinarians from carrying out surgical artificial insemination in dogs due to ethical and welfare considerations. However, this new prohibition does not apply to greyhounds as the practice is provided for in legislation under the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005. The report of the working group on control of dogs, which was approved by the Cabinet in March 2023 and has been published online, includes a recommendation that surgical artificial insemination in canines be prohibited, where the word "canine" encompasses all breeds of dogs, including greyhounds. In 2024, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine held a public consultation on whether the practice of carrying out surgical artificial insemination in greyhounds should be banned. This public consultation has now closed and will contribute to the legislative process. The results of the public consultation will be published in due course. The Department of agriculture is closely examining this issue and will be providing advice on an appropriate course of action in the near future. There is a strong commitment to improve animal welfare in the greyhound racing sector in the programme for Government. The Government’s support is contingent on a guarantee of welfare standards being upheld by Rásaíocht Con Éireann on an annual basis to ensure Rásaíocht Con Éireann continues to provide financial support for the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust and contributes to rehoming greyhounds. Since 2020, the Department of agriculture has ensured that a minimum of 10% of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund allocation to Rásaíocht Con Éireann is ring-fenced for welfare, including integrity. Rásaíocht Con Éireann has confirmed that from 2019 to the end of quarter 1 of 2025, it spent €19.3 million on traceability, care and welfare. Rásaíocht Con Éireann continues to operate an ever-expanding greyhound care fund, utilising income from the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund towards the implementation of the highest possible welfare standards at kennels and racing facilities throughout the country. To facilitate the Department of agriculture in monitoring expenditure on welfare, quarterly reports on progress regarding the continued implementation of the care and welfare programme are required from Rásaíocht Con Éireann. Provisions in the Greyhound Racing Act 2019 support Rásaíocht Con Éireann in strengthening greyhound welfare. This legislation strengthens the legal basis for the industry, with a view to fortifying the integrity of the greyhound racing sector and improving provision for greyhound traceability. In addition to its care and welfare programme, Rásaíocht Con Éireann has a comprehensive range of activity in the areas of regulatory, integrity and laboratory functions. This includes activity on welfare inspections and investigations, testing regimes, veterinary services and financial support for the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust and contributions to private rehoming agencies. These care and welfare initiatives ran by Rásaíocht Con Éireann are a key priority. A key element underpinning the welfare in any sector is traceability. The provision of a full IT traceability system for racing greyhounds is important in this respect. The Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system came into operation on 11 January 2021. The system provides a mechanism to ensure that racing greyhounds are properly registered and traceable throughout their lives up to the point of rehoming or retirement. At the track, Rásaíocht Con Éireann makes a considerable effort to minimise the risk of injury by investing considerable sums of money each year on track maintenance and improvements. Veterinary surgeons are present at race times to ensure that only fit dogs run and that injured dogs receive prompt treatment.
Sentiment score: 0.38
On the behalf of the Minister, Deputy Heydon, I thank the Deputy for his dedication to this topic. The Minister agrees that more can be done in this regard. Both he and his Department are fully committed to progressing this work. I have to admit that I honestly was not aware of this practice until I was asked to cover this Topical Issue Debate this evening. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has lead policy responsibility within the Government for animal welfare and takes its role most seriously. There is a strong commitment to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner. We know why such improvements had to be introduced in recent years, but they have been introduced. The Department keeps animal welfare legislation under review with respect to developments in the area of animal welfare and with regard to the practical lessons from operating the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The Deputy has asked a very fair question tonight with regard to when we can expect the conclusions and findings of a public consultation that has been closed for more than 12 months and whether that public consultation will feed into the legislative changes the Deputy is asking for. The honest answer is that I do not know. The Deputy has asked a fair question, which I will relate back to the Minister who has asked me to deputise for him this evening. I will ask for the Minister or his officials to come back directly to the Deputy with an answer to that fair question.
Sentiment score: 0.35