Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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244. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding from the carbon tax fund that was allocated to the new pilot environmental scheme REAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32380/21]

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.

It is my intention to fund each of the activities listed below in 2021 which includes the scheme referred to by the Deputy. Final funding allocations, including the use of Carbon Tax funds, will be determined in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

- Re-opening of the organic farming scheme,

- Straw Incorporation measure (SIM),

- Agri-environment training for farmers,

- REAP – Results based environment-agri pilot projects,

- Soil sampling,

- Farm Environmental Study,

- TAMS environment,

- Rewetting EIP,

- Continuous Professional Development for advisors,

- Health and safety initiatives under EIP-AGRI,

- Biodiversity actions for farmers and communities and

- Peatland rejuvenation.

The Results-based Environmental-Agri Pilot (REAP) is an innovative, ambitious and farmer-friendly pilot that will deliver an important income boost to participating farmers. While the project will support our environmental objectives, it will also support farm incomes by providing a maximum payment of €12,600 to participating farms over the term of their REAP contract. It is a targeted measure for farmers not currently participating in other agri-environment schemes.