Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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573. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions that are calculated to result from the arterial drainage of high carbon soils; and the policy measures under consideration to address these emissions. [32177/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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There are two categories of emissions from arterial drainage of organic soils under agricultural production under which emissions are reported in the national inventory. Firstly under the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector, in which carbon dioxide and methane emissions are reported and account for on average 587 kt CO₂equivalent per year. Secondly nitrous oxide emissions which are reported in the agricultural sector, which account for on average 780 kt CO₂equivalent per year.

Ireland was one of the first countries to elect to account for cropland management and grass land management in the second accounting period of the Kyoto Protocol.

Cropland and grassland management activities protect soil carbon pools by reducing emissions and further enhance soil carbon pools by enhancing removals (sequestration). My Department and its agencies, Teagasc and Bord Bia, have a strong focus on protecting and enhancing soil carbon pools under agricultural management through the base requirements of good agricultural and environmental condition under pillar 1 of the CAP and through various elements of GLAS such as low input permanent pasture and wader bird management.

The recently published Teagasc report, An Analysis of Abatement Potential of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Irish Agriculture 2021-2030, highlights the potential of water table manipulation of organic soils, with this report currently being examined by officials within my Department.