Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 26 October 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Vision for the Future of Irish Farming: Macra na Feirme

Mr. John Keane:

I am aware of a project in Roscommon at present where approximately 18 acres of land are being let on a long-term lease from a farmer to a solar company, which sells the electricity back into the grid. That is something which is new and I do not know how many incidences of it there are. Currently, there are a small number of incidences where a farmer is receiving a reward for his or her land and the company also receives a return. That is something which is happening. We would prefer if that could be seen on a scale that is not soil stealing so that it is not removing land from being productive but we recognise it can offer an income.