Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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845. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the target for organic conversion by year until 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15905/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The current Programme for Government target is to align the utilisable agricultural area under organic production in Ireland with the EU average of 7.5%

The organic sector in Ireland is experiencing considerable growth at present with the area of land under organic production now at approximately 90,000 hectares at the end of 2021.

I am committed to continuing the implementation of the National Organic Strategy 2019-2025 which sets out ambitious growth targets for the sector by aligning it closely with the market opportunities.

I have allocated an additional €5 million to the Organic Farming scheme which is currently open and will close on 8 April 2022. I have introduced changes to the scheme by reducing the required stocking rate and also by increasing the area paid at the higher rate from 60 hectares to 70 hectares, measures which I believe will encourage new entrants to organic farming.

The additional funding to be allocated to the opening of the Organic Farming Scheme could provide for an additional fifty thousand hectares converting to organic production in 2022. This I believe will assist in achieving our target of 7.5% organic area as outlined in the Programme for Government.

For the years 2023 – 2027, I have proposed the allocation of €256m under the new CAP to continue the development and growth of the organic sector. To attain the land area target of 7.5%, an additional 50,000 new hectares will be required every year during the lifetime of the CAP. These are our targets for organic conversion for the years up to 2027, while supports up to 2030 will be a matter for a future CAP programme.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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846. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of participants in the organic farming scheme; the total and average payment, by year and farm system, from 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15906/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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At present there are 1,734 participants in the Organic Farming Scheme. The table below outlines the average payment by year and farm system from 2019 to date. The total expenditure figure in 2022 to date represents payments due in respect of the 2021 scheme year.

The current Programme for Government is committed to aligning Ireland’s organic land area with that of the EU average of 7.5%, which is also consistent with the target proposed by Agri-Food Strategy 2030. My Department is continuing to progress the actions outlined in the Organic Strategy 2019-2025 to develop the organic sector in Ireland. This sets out ambitious growth targets in line with the market opportunities that exist in the sector.

To assist in achieving these targets I have secured a budget allocation of €21 million for the Organic Farming Scheme for 2022, an increase of €5 million from the previous year. The scheme is now open for new applicants.

Additionally under the new CAP Strategic Plan, I have also proposed the allocation of €256 million for the Organic Farming Scheme. This level of funding will allow for enhanced payments to organic farmers across all sectors, which will further support maintenance and conversion to Organic Farming and assist in achieving our target of 7.5% of land cover under organic production by 2027.