Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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24. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if mountain land, hill land particularly commonage will be treated the same in the next CAP for those farmers who farm this land and claim BPS, ANC and GLAS on this type of land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38165/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Payments under the current CAP are based on the principle of the eligible hectare. An eligible hectare is required to draw down a BPS entitlement or an area based payment under the other schemes managed by the Department, such as GLAS and ANC.

An eligible hectare is an "agricultural area" with an "agricultural activity" being carried out on that area. In broad terms, this means that, for permanent grassland, it must be capable of supporting an agricultural activity such as grazing livestock and this activity must be carried out on an annual basis. Currently, no distinction is drawn between hill land and low land with regard to eligibility for payment.

Under the new CAP, the Department will, through the CAP Strategic Plan, be submitting to DG AGRI the new definitions for the eligible hectare that would apply from 2023 on. The definitions will build on the "eligible hectare" definition with a proposal from the Department to also allow up to 30% of the land parcel consist of features beneficial to the climate and environment such as scrub and habitat areas. Another element of the CAP agreement at the June Council includes a provision that it may be a requirement for an agricultural activity only every second year. The "eligible hectare" definition applies to all land with no distinction between hill land or low land.

Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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25. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he will ensure that the measures in the new Common Agricultural Policy will maximise delivery of greenhouse gas reductions across all farms in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37088/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the opportunity to update the house on the development of the CAP Strategic Plan and how it can contribute to the delivery of greenhouse gas reductions across all farms.

Department officials and I have been consulting and working closely with stakeholders, other government departments and agencies, and technical experts over the past year to ensure that the interventions proposed in the new CAP Strategic Plan plan will maximise greenhouse gas emissions, protect the environment, and enhance biodiversity and water quality.

In particular, the new eco-scheme will provide an opportunity for all farmers to participate. Other measures proposed include a National Agri-Environment Scheme, Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme, Organic Farming Scheme, Protein Aid Scheme and on-farm investments supporting the achievement of environment targets. These will assist in meeting the targets outlined for a climate-neutral food system by 2050, by reducing biogenic methane levels, reducing ammonia emissions, reducing nutrient losses to water, prioritising biodiversity on farmed area and increasing the area of agricultural land farmed organically.

I will also shortly launch a public consultation on the draft interventions proposed and will be engaging with stakeholders across the country to hear their views. I continue to engage with stakeholders, other Government Departments and State Agencies to design these interventions to ensure they give quantifiable benefits and contribute to achieving optimal greenhouse gas emission reductions across all farms.