Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her views on Irish farmers efforts to reduce carbon emissions through their workings of the land, for example hedge maintenance and tree planting that aid the absorption of carbon-based gases and so on; if she is supportive of these efforts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9814/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is a challenging national issue which faces all sectors of Irish society. Farmers are playing their part in meeting this challenge and my Department supports their efforts by funding and promoting various schemes which contribute to the reduction and sequestration of greenhouse gases. These include the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS), the Organic Farming Scheme and the Scheme of Grant Aid for the Development of the Organic Sector, the Bioenergy Scheme for Willow and Miscanthus and the Afforestation Scheme.

REPS rewards farmers for adhering to environmentally sustainable farming practices and contributes significantly to the selective planting of broadleaf tree species and to the planting and rejuvenation of hedgerows. Other measures in REPS which are expected to have a positive impact on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are those designed to improve the management of organic manures and to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers. In terms of reduced fertiliser use and consequent emissions, organic farming too has a role to play. The forestry sector is very important in addressing climate change, as it removes CO2 from the atmosphere, in addition to being a valuable source of renewable energy, thus replacing fossil fuels. Over the past twenty years, close to 300,000 hectares of new forestry has been established in Ireland, the majority of this by the private sector. In recent years over 90% of new planting has been by farmers. My Department also supports the development of other renewable energy sources through its Bioenergy Scheme.