Written answers

Thursday, 26 April 2018

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Schemes

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

174. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an overview of the sustainability support and advisory programme; and the criteria for interested applicants. [18485/18]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The ‘Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme’ is an innovative Government/industry collaborative initiative and a new approach to achieving improvements in water quality and wider sustainability. It involves the establishment and joint funding between my Department, the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government (DHPLG) and the Dairy Industry of a resource of 30 Agricultural Sustainability Advisors. These Advisors will receive comprehensive training provided by Teagasc and the EPA to ensure a consistent and uniform approach. The Government funded Advisors will be managed by Teagasc’s environmental section; oversight will be provided by both my Department and DHPLG.

This four year programme supports the goals of the Food Wise 2025 strategy, facilitating increased productivity hand-in-hand with a more sustainable sector. The sustainability and efficiency gains will be achieved through improved nutrient management with more targeted use of fertiliser, better farmyard management practice, and the development of new approaches to reducing nutrient losses in critical source areas.

The programme has the potential to strengthen delivery of Ireland’s obligations under the Water Framework Directive. It is part of a new approach to River Basin Management Planning for the 2018 – 2021 cycle. This new approach includes the development of a much-strengthened evidence base to understand the full range of pressures affecting water quality and the development of the programmes of measures needed to deliver improvements.

Under the programme, the new team will promote on-farm sustainability best practice to farmers in 190 priority catchments identified by the EPA in consultation with other Government agencies and Departments. Furthermore the Dairy Co-ops will support sustainability best practice through their structures, promoting best farmyard and nutrient management practice across all their suppliers.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.