Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has established the baseline data for energy inputs for each farming sector to determine national averages for each sector; and if he has developed an energy savings programme to reduce the use of diesel on farms and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions. [20968/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Farmers operate in a competitive environment where efficiency of production is of paramount importance to the viability of their business. In this context, energy constitutes a significant and rising input cost and it is in the interest of all farmers, and indeed other competitive sectors, to manage such costs efficiently and to limit use where possible. My Department has baseline data on greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, including fuel usage, and it is worth noting that in recent years the sector has achieved significant production efficiencies which have kept emissions per unit of food as low as possible. My Department and Teagasc will continue to assist and support the agriculture sector in pursuing such efficiencies. My Department will also continue to encourage farmers to plant forestry and energy crops, which have such an important role to play in the achievement of Ireland's renewable energy targets.