Written answers

Wednesday, 17 November 2021

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Common Agricultural Policy

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

275. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 355 of 20 May 2021, the amount of funding provided to pillar 2 schemes from the Exchequer and the amount through funds from the European Union by scheme in 2021 to date; the expected spend and allocation for 2021-2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56214/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Officials in my Department will collate the information requested and forward it directly to the Deputy.

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

276. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated to pillar 1 payments in 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56215/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Direct Payments in 2014 and 2015 amounted to:

2014 - €1.202bn

2015 - €1.143bn

The payment years 2014 and 2015 occurred in two different Common Agricultural Policy programmes and had two different payment ceilings.2015 was the first year of the 2015 -2020 CAP which has been extended until 2022.

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

277. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated to pillar 1 funds for 2021-2022; the amount allocated to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56216/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The amounts allocated to Direct Payments in 2021 and 2022 is as follows:

2021 - €1.186bn

2022 - €1.186bn

Total Pillar I expenditure to date in 2021 is €799.5m.

The Deputy is aware that the Pillar I reduction could have been much more than the 2% finally agreed in the EU budget negotiations were it not for the strong defence put up by Ireland and other Member States. This reduction is more than made up for by the increase secured for Pillar II funding.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

278. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he has studied a submission from an organisation (details supplied) with respect to reforms to CAP; the extent to which he proposes to respond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56218/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have studied and reflected on the named organisation's submission, and the organisation has also been afforded the opportunity to present its proposals to me in person, and to my officials, on a number of occasions in recent months. I have offered an open-door policy to this organisation and I feel we have had a constructive engagement theretofore.

Many of the points raised in the submission have been considered in the development of the plan to date, and I am further reflecting on other elements.

As the Deputy is aware, my role as Minister is to strike what I believe to be the right balance between the views of all stakeholders, and of course, there are many different views in relation to all of the elements proposed for the CAP Strategic Plan. I must also take into consideration the EU legal requirements, as well as the broader strategic imperatives at EU and national levels, including in relation to environmental and climate ambition. I believe that the draft plan, which is currently out for public consultation until 8 December, represents a fair balance of those views and considerations.

My Department and I are still actively considering all the various views being expressed, including those of the said organisation. Consultative activity has already led to several changes to the proposed CAP Strategic Plan, and I anticipate that there will be further changes before the plan is finalised and submitted to the EU Commission by the deadline of 1st January 2022.

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

279. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure the CAP includes recognition of hedgerow quality and protects the carbon and biodiversity values of these landscape features; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56258/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Work on Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan is ongoing, but I can confirm at this stage that several proposed elements will protect the carbon and biodiversity value of our hedgerows.

Indeed, some of these elements are designed to also improve hedgerow quality and, hence, the contribution hedgerows are making from a carbon storage and biodiversity perspective.

Irish hedgerows are already designated as landscape features under the CAP. This means a farmer in receipt of CAP payments is obliged to retain existing hedgerows on their land. This condition will continue under the next CAP.

In addition, I propose to broaden the Conditionality requirements so that a minimum of 4% of each farm must be devoted to ecologically beneficial features such as hedgerows and other nature- and biodiversity-rich features. This will place a direct economic value on retaining and, where necessary, creating these features.

In addition, the Eco-Scheme is a new annual agri-environmental scheme that farmers will be able to avail of under the next CAP. I propose to use this scheme to build on Conditionality requirements including, for example, by rewarding farmers that have a higher proportion of their land devoted to ecologically beneficial features such as hedgerows.

A flagship multi-annual Agri-Environmental Climate Measure is also proposed for the CAP Strategic Plan. It will include specific, prescription-based, actions for new hedgerow planting and, where necessary, hedgerow rejuvenation by coppicing or laying. For two results-based field actions (low input grassland and multi-species leys) farmers will be rewarded for the quality of hedgerows and treelines. This will encourage improved hedgerow management, and protect and enhance the carbon and biodiversity value of this landscape feature.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.