Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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493. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are grants available for a person who is beekeeping and has three and a half acres to use for biodiversity for wildflowers for bee pollination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34126/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has several supports in place for both beekeepers and for wild pollinators.

The main financial support available to beekeepers is through The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector. This is open to all registered beekeepers and is a mechanism that can assist beekeepers invest in their apiaries and associated apiculture equipment for the future. Registration requirements for such producers are on the Department's website.

Under this scheme, aid at a rate of 40% is payable on the accepted cost of approved capital investments or equipment. The 2022 scheme is due to open in October 2021.  Details of the 2021 scheme and eligibility requirements can be found at .

In relation to land available for biodiversity and pollinators there are no direct supports available. The current agri-environmental scheme GLAS has actions for wild bees as well as general biodiversity actions which support pollinators such as hedge planting and wild bird cover. The agri-environmental scheme for the next CAP is under development and pollinator actions are being developed in consultation with experts. The next agri-environmental scheme is due to open in 2023.

The Department recognises the important role of pollinators and the role farmland and agriculture has to play. With a third of Ireland's Bee species under threat of extinction, it has never been more important to take action to protect pollinators and the Department plays an active role in supporting many initiatives and projects which work to raise awareness, encourage action and undertake research on our pollinators.

The All Ireland Pollinator Plan is a hugely successful project which this Department has been involved with since its beginning in 2015. It provides a valuable resource on actions for all sectors from businesses to farmland to provide space where pollinators can survive and thrive. The AIPP has recently published its second plan which now includes a Farmland Pollinator Officer funded by the Department to further develop and promote ways in which farmland and farmers can support pollinators. Details can be found at .