Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This pilot scheme is one of the key initiatives in the Department for 2021. We have a greening of government which I welcome. This is a key strand of that with both the initial pilot and the further expansion of it.

In the programme for Government, a clear indication is given that part of the carbon tax fund will go directly to Irish farmers. I asked the Minister in written and oral parliamentary questions about this. On both occasions, he refused to answer how much of the carbon tax is allocated to that €10 million fund under this environmental scheme. Up to €3 million had been allocated in the previous year directly from the Minister for Finance. The Minister has gone cap in hand to the Commission looking for permission which clearly indicates that part of this funding is coming directly from the European Commission. How much of the €23 million is going into this environmental pilot scheme?

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