Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and the specific example of north Kildare, an area I obviously know well and is close to my heart.

As the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I am committed to driving sustainable agriculture practices that underpin Ireland's food sector and contribute more broadly to food security through an export market valued at €19 billion. The tillage sector is an important and integral component of Ireland's agrifood industry. The Government is committed to growing a vibrant tillage sector, as set out in the programme for Government, aligning with the roadmap set out in the Food Vision Tillage Group report, which was published last May.

A vibrant and sustainable tillage sector is central to increasing our food and feed security while also contributing to our climate objectives. My Department also supports the production of indigenous renewable energy. As set out in the Food Vision Tillage Group report, there are opportunities for tillage farmers to contribute to renewable energy. On-farm renewable energy generation activities offer farm diversification and income opportunities. Earlier, we discussed the challenges of generation renewal and at its heart is an impediment for younger farmers taking over the family farm and it can be that piece around income.

Elements that can drive the diversification of income and provide additional income opportunities are important. Measures taken during the previous Dáil included taking away the requirement for planning permission for solar panels on roofs of sheds. Farmers' core activity of producing top quality, safe and nutritious food continued. The income they derived from the cattle, sheep or grain that was in that shed continued, yet they got to supplement their income by having solar panels on the roof of their sheds.

These can contribute in a positive way to the decarbonisation of the energy system. The solar capital investment scheme for example, one of the measures in TAMS, provides support to farmers wishing to invest in renewable energy making use of existing shed roof space. Government policy was to do away with the requirement for planning permission for that as well.

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