Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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256. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the €79 million fund announced in Budget 2021 to assist farmers with environmental projects; the amount and projects spent or announced to date; the balance left; his plans for other projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23449/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I secured an additional €79 million, including €23 million carbon tax, in Budget 2021 to support action in the area of biodiversity, climate, environment and health and safety, all the while supporting farm incomes.

My intention is to allocate the funding as follows:

- Re-opening of the organic farming scheme €5m,

- Straw Incorporation measure (SIM) €10m,

- Agri-environment training for farmers €10m,

- REAP – Results based environment-agri pilot projects €10m,

- Soil sampling €10m,

- Farm Environmental Study €5m,

- TAMS environment €20m,

- Rewetting EIP – €3m,

- Continuous Professional Development for advisors €1m,

- Health and safety initiatives under EIP-AGRI €1m,

- Biodiversity actions for farmers and communities €1.25m and

- Peatland rejuvenation €3m.

EU approval is required and my Department has submitted the tenth amendment to the Rural Development Programme (RDP) to the European Commission for its approval, after which the final allocation of the €79 million funding will be decided.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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257. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to assist family farms and ensuring the continued viability of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23450/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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On 14th April, I published the Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2024 alongside an Action Plan for 2021, which outlines 75 actions to further develop a sustainable, innovative and competitive agri-food, forestry and seafood sector. The Action Plan will build on significant work already underway by the Department, including:

1. Continuing to provide vital supports to the farmers, fishers and foresters which are the lifeblood of a balanced rural and coastal economy and community.

2. Finalising and publishing a new 10-year Strategy for the agri-food sector - delivering on a key commitment of the Programme for Government, which called for an ambitious blueprint for the sector for the years ahead, taking into account our climate action and environmental obligations.

3. Developing Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan.

4. Designing, developing and commencing new transitional schemes for 2021 including an Agri-Environment results-based Pilot Project which rewards farmers for committed environmental effort by linking payments to the quality of environmental outcomes delivered.

5. Implementing Ireland’s first over-arching Animal Welfare Strategy.

6. Working to develop initiatives and policies to underpin and support farm and fisher incomes.

The Department makes direct payments to Irish farmers of almost €1.9 billion annually, under CAP and national schemes. In addition, it funds research, advisory and training supports which directly benefit Irish farmers, and, along with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, co-funds a number of preferential loan schemes to the benefit of primary producers. Farmers also benefit significantly from a range of agri-taxation measures, which are particularly focused to support land mobility and generational renewal.