340. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department is taking to support the restoration of native oyster reefs and other nature-based solutions in Ireland’s marine environment to improve biodiversity, enhance water quality and strengthen coastal resilience; whether further restoration projects are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52570/26]

My Department has a policy remit for seafood production and processing. While the development and implementation of oyster reef restoration projects and other nature-based solutions in Ireland's marine environment to improve biodiversity, enhance water quality and strengthen coastal resilience do not fall directly within the remit of my Department, I recognise the high value of these projects and the important role that our marine agencies (Marine Institute (MI) and Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)) and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) programme - administered by my Department - can play in supporting them. I can assure the Deputy that my agencies will continue their good work in this area.

I can confirm that my Department has funded a number of oyster restoration projects under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and the EMFAF in recent years. These projects are managed and co-ordinated by the MI and implemented in collaboration with community organisations and oyster co-operatives. BIM has also provided support in some cases. Such projects have been undertaken in Galway Bay, Clew Bay, Kilkieran Bay, Lough Swilly and Tralee Bay. The projects are complemented by annual surveys of oyster biomass in these areas conducted by the MI. The projects are components of the Ireland-UK network of oyster restoration actions and of the Native Oyster Restoration Alliance in Europe.

The MI also provides funding for marine-related projects under the Marine Research Programme and there are regular competitive research calls. The MI has awarded funding of €1.5 million under the Marine Research Programme to the BRICONS project, which is an all-island partnership of universities, led by University College Dublin, which aims to restore native oyster reefs.

The MI also undertakes numerous projects to improve biodiversity, water quality and coastal resilience. The MI is implementing the EMFAF Marine Biodiversity Scheme on behalf of the Government, which supports 20 projects amounting to circa €10.5m between 2021 and 2029. Under the current EMFAF programme, the MI is supporting two projects aimed at restoration and protection:

• Native oyster restoration project – 2022 to 2026

• Management of the crayfish fishery to protect critically endangered species – 2021 to 2027

Other supported projects aim to provide information on protection, recovery or sustainable use, such as “Monitoring the recovery of deep water species”, “Impacts of Fishing on Endangered, Threatened or Protected Species” and the “Pollack telemetry and genetics project.

As regards future restoration projects, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is leading the development of Ireland's first National Restoration Plan (NRP), as required under the EU Nature Restoration Regulation. Article 5 sets out restoration targets for marine ecosystems, including shellfish beds (i.e. oyster reef). As part of the work towards the preparation of Ireland's NRP, an Inter-Departmental Working Group on the restoration of the Sea was established in February 2025. My Department and its agencies are represented on this Working Group.