Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1148. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans to use revenue from carbon tax increases to fund the new environmental scheme for farmers; and if so, the amount of this that will be spent. [21868/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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An additional €79 million, including €23 million from the carbon tax fund, was provided in Budget 2021 to support actions by my Department in the area of biodiversity, climate, environment and farm health and safety, all the while supporting farm incomes. This is already being implemented across a range of agri-environment measures through the REAP measure, the re-opening of the Organics scheme and the new call for EIPs on biodiversity, for example. I will be announcing other initiatives from this allocation as the year progresses.

The Results-Based Environment Agri Pilot (REAP) Project for 2021 is the flagship transitional scheme for this year. The aim of this pilot project is to trial an agri-environment results-based scoring system at a national level with a view to identifying up scaling potential for possible inclusion in the next flagship national agri-environment scheme. This model makes it worthwhile for participants to gain an understanding of the conditions required for the delivery of optimum biodiversity and environmental benefits.

Full details of the project including terms and conditions and specifications are available on the Department's section of gov.ie.