Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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302. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to carry out a baseline biodiversity survey on every farm to inform future policy development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25149/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As part of budget 2021, funding of €5 million has been dedicated to develop a pilot 'Farm Environmental Study' programme in 2021. The Pilot Farm Environmental Study Programme will begin the process of developing a national baseline database of farm scale habitat and biodiversity data along with additional environmental parameters. The Department is at an advanced stage in finalising the tender to implement this programme in 2021.

The Pilot Farm Environmental Study is an integral part of measures that were introduced as part of Budget 2021 and is central to delivering benefits for Biodiversity, Water and Climate in this country.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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303. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to explore and develop potential opportunities for farmers from anaerobic digestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25150/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Indigenous renewable energy plays a vital role in our domestic fuel mix and will become even more important in the context of reducing our reliance on imported fuels and in meeting our challenging renewable energy targets for 2020 and 2030 and decarbonising our energy systems by 2050.

The Department recognises the potential environmental benefits of using Anaerobic Digestion (AD), including climate mitigation, water quality and air quality and the potential as a diversification opportunity for farmers. While the potential for the growth of the AD sector in Ireland is strong it should be seen as a long term development. Research suggests that there is potential for a significant role for biogas / bio-methane in the decarbonisation of the heat and transport sectors with corresponding climate benefits.

Supports for anaerobic digestion heating systems are currently available under the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH). The SSRH supports the adoption of renewable heating systems by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating and other non-domestic heat users. The Scheme, which is funded by the Department of Environment, Climate Action and Communications (DECC) and operated by the SEAI, supports the adoption of heating systems that use solid biomass fuels and heating systems that produce and use biogas via anaerobic digestion.

Biogas produced via anaerobic digestion can be upgraded and injected into the gas grid - at which point it is classified as biomethane. Ireland's National Energy & Climate Plan has set an indicative target of 1.6TWh of indigenous biomethane to be injected annually into the gas grid by 2030.

The plan also set out a number of measures that could support the development of biomethane including the potential for a new renewable energy obligation in the heat sector. The recently updated actions under the Climate Action Plan include a specific action to consider such a measure and publish a decision by the end of this year on whether an obligation should be introduced along with the planned timeframe and scope. DECC is working to deliver this action by the end of the year.

In addition, the Department supports research, development and demonstration in this particular area and has funded two projects through the European Innovation Partnerships Initiative (EIP) under the Rural Development Programme 2014- 2020. The Biorefinery Glas (small scale farmer-led green biorefineries) and Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) small biogas demonstration programme have been awarded funding of over €900,000 each.

The Department continues to work closely with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), which is the lead Department in this area, to ensure that the supply of domestic fuels available in the forest and agriculture sectors are mobilised to support energy generation from a range of bioenergy technologies including Anaerobic Digestion.