Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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304. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to review pesticide use across the agricultural sector while acknowledging the comparatively low level of pesticide use in Ireland and to provide supports to farmers who are undertaking practices to reduce their dependence on such chemicals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25151/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is carrying out the Programme for Government commitments through its implementation of the Sustainable Use Directive which includes a range of activities such as training, data gathering, registration of users, advisors and distributors of pesticides and testing of application equipment.

Pesticide use in Ireland is relatively low compared to many EU Member States, as evidenced by an estimated average application rate of 0.54 kg/ha of Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA) compared to an EU average of 2.15 kg/ha UAA (based on an analysis of 2018 sales data). In order to continue to progress, it is necessary to have accurate data to understand the pattern of pesticide use in Ireland, and to ensure that measures based on robust scientific information are available to farmers to help them to further reduce use of pesticides where possible.

A number of measures are in place to review pesticide use across the agriculture sector. These include collection and analysis of pesticides sales data on an annual basis, a rolling programme of pesticide usage surveys, covering all main crops, and calculation of Harmonised Risk Indicators for assessing trends in risk from pesticide use. These indicators (HRI 1 and HRI 2) are specified under the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive. Further developments to improve the collection and use of pesticide statistics, including additional risk indicators, will occur as part of the implementation of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy.

Regarding measures to help farmers reduce use of pesticides, the key approach is full implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) by all farmers. Under this approach all alternatives to pesticides must be considered and pesticides should only be used where essential. Teagasc provides extensive advisory supports to farmers to help them implement IPM practices and also carries out a significant body of research work to ensure that advice is based on up-to-date and reliable information. It should be noted that the Department has provided funding for a number of IPM-related research projects.

The Department also provides various financial supports to farmers. Examples include payments for low-input grassland, and funding under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) for equipment to reduce pesticide use, such as heavy rollers.

The measures outlined above, together with implementation and enforcement of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive, are contributing to more sustainable use of pesticides in Ireland. The possibility for further measures will be considered as part of ongoing EU discussions on implementing the Farm to Fork Strategy.