Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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266. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to establishing a targeted annual investment allowance which would focus on smart agriculture, renewable energy equipment and climate change mitigation infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29041/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The long term vision for the agricultural sector is an approach to carbon neutrality which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production. Our policy approach is based on three principles:

i reducing agricultural emissions

ii. increasing carbon sequestration; and

iii. displacing and substituting fossil fuel and energy intensive materials.

There are a significant number of measures already in place which support these principles.

The financial allocation in respect of Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) for the full Rural Development Programme period is €395m. To date, total expenditure, including transitional expenditure, has reached €244m with commitments of an additional €130m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those commitments. The scheme currently supports investment in smart agriculture such as GPS equipment, in renewable energy equipment including solar panels, energy efficient lighting and variable speed drives in milking equipment and in climate mitigation infrastructure such as trailing shoe technology for application of animal manures.

To date 31,843 applications have been approved under the scheme.

Ireland has outlined its support for the increased environmental and climate ambition as set out in the EU Commission’s proposals for the new CAP. Ireland has accepted the 40% target for the EU CAP budget, the 30% national target for Pillar II spending, and the introduction of mandatory ECO schemes. The CAP Strategic Plan will be a key enabler for the substantive delivery of new environment/climate measures at farm level, however, it requires agreement at EU level on the budget and legislation.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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267. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to fund a carbon sequestration programme similar to the agricultural sustainability support and advice programme which would offer free advice and guidance to all farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29043/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The ASSAP is an important targeted measure in the second River Basin Management Plan published in April 2018. This is an innovative Government and industry initiative running from 2018 to 2021 and is a well-structured collaborative initiative involving all stakeholders to facilitate improvements in water quality. The Department scheme to establish new native woodlands is promoted under ASSAP as a measure to help protect and enhance water quality.

Teagasc forestry staff currently provide comprehensive training and advisory support to all farmers which includes provision of guidance and advice on the range of options available for carbon sequestration, through integration of trees on the farm. My Department is further supporting Teagasc in developing a forest carbon online tool. This tool will be freely available and will provide indicative carbon sequestration trends for the range of available planting categories and different species groups. It will provide useful information on potential carbon sequestration by trees at farm level. This is the first iteration of such a forest carbon tool and will be available by the end of the year.

The current Forestry Programme supports opportunities for carbon sequestration on the farm by providing grants and premiums for afforestation. This programme is due to end in 2020 but delays in finalising the new CAP regulations means that this will extend into 2021. Work on a new Forestry Programme is due to start in the coming months which will involve an extensive public consultation process and engagement with stakeholders across the forest sector. My Department would be happy to give consideration to a submission on this subject within this framework.