Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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60. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he will ensure optimum delivery of biodiversity restoration across all farms in Ireland given the declaration of a biodiversity crisis by Dáil Éireann in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51526/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Biodiversity conservation and restoration is supported through a variety of schemes operated by my department at both national and local level. The Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) includes agricultural actions that promote and preserve biodiversity both directly and indirectly. The three-tier hierarchy system prioritizes actions which target the preservation of priority habitats and species, through promotion of sustainable farming practices.

The deputy may also be aware that earlier this year my department launched the Results-based Environment-Agri Pilot project (REAP), which links payments to the quality of the environmental outcomes delivered on each participating farm.

In a similar vein, the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP’s) funded by this Department as part of the Rural Development Programme, look to address biodiversity and other environmental challenges at a local level, in collaboration with the farming community and other interested stakeholders. This programme covers a diverse range of initiaves from the protection of the pearl mussel to the improvement of habitats and semi-natural habitats in upland areas.

As part of budget 2021, funding of €5 million was dedicated to developing a pilot 'Farm Environmental Study' programme. This 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 information gathered will enhance farmer knowledge of habitat and biodiversity on their farms, while also providing information to this Department which could be used to target future Agri-environment and Climate measures as part of the Common Agricultural Policy.

The knowledge gained from these programmes will be central to delivering benefits for Biodiversity, Water and Climate in this country.