Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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239. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which conditions in the poultry industry continue to be lucrative from the producer's point of view; the degree to which efforts are ongoing to ensure the sustainability of the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38475/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As in other meat sectors, global trade conditions will be crucial in determining the outlook for the Irish poultry sector over the medium to longer term.

My Department continues to monitor the markets for any impacts on the agri-food sector in this regard.

I am acutely aware of the pressures being faced by many in the agri-food sector due to the increase in input costs, exacerbated by the impact of the illegal war in Ukraine.

Poultry is normally reared under contract to processors, for a pre-agreed price, and therefore poultry producers are not typically subject to the same price fluctuations as other farmers.

Securing market access and diversifying trade remains a key aim for my Department and developing market opportunities at home and abroad is one of the goals of Food Vision 2030.

2024 has shown signs of growth in overall poultry production with slaughter figures, as of Week 35 of 2024, up by 2.8% on the same period of 2023 and if current weekly trends continue, the overall slaughter figures for 2024, could exceed 114m birds.

The most recent comparable monthly price (August 2024), would also indicate strong performance within the Sector, with the August 2024 price for Whole 'Class A' Chicken, being approximately 7.99% higher than the price being achieved 12 months previous.

According to CSO figures, the UK (€206.2m) accounted for 72.2% of 2023 total exports in terms of value. The Netherlands (€22.4m), France (€12.1m) Germany (€7.6m) and Spain (€7.3m) also featured prominently as export destinations in 2023 and these countries accounted for almost 90% of total Irish poultry meat exports last year by value.

I am also very aware of the contribution of the poultry production sector to Irish agri-food as a whole, supporting significant levels of direct employment and contributing to the rural economy. I firmly believe that the poultry production sector in Ireland is in a strong position.