Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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1271. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the anticipated timeline for the completion of the EIA (agricultural) review; if his Department will consider a moratorium on permits for the removal of hedgerows pending the outcome of that review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54768/22]

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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1272. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the evidential basis used by his Department that allows for a 500 m or 5 ha threshold for the removal of hedgerows without permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54769/22]

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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1273. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will consider reducing the 500 m threshold for permits for the removal of hedgerows pending the outcome of the EIA (agriculture) review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54770/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1271 to 1273, inclusive, together.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (EIA) Regulations came into effect in September 2011 and were amended in April 2013 and September 2017. These Regulations were introduced following European Court of Justice rulings that Ireland had failed to adequately implement certain aspects of the EIA Directive (EU cases C215-06 and C66-06). The development of these Regulations and the associated thresholds included discussion and consultation with the European Commission.

Given the passage of time since the Regulations were introduced, it is appropriate to now review the Regulations.

The Department has committed to undertaking a full review of these Regulations along with a review of procedures for dealing with screening applications. This review will take place shortly.

Pending the review, it would be inappropriate for the Department to impose a moratorium on screening applications under the Regulations and my officials will continue to assess these applications to determine whether there is significant impact to the environment or not.

Separate to the EIA Regulations, the new CAP Strategic Plan has a stronger focus on the environment through a combination of new land eligibility rules, enhanced Conditionality, the Eco-Scheme under Pillar I and an environmentally ambitious Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) under Pillar II.

The new definition of the eligible hectare will avoid the incentive to remove features which are beneficial for climate or the environment. Under Conditionality farmers will have to devote at least 4% of their land to biodiversity. For the first time, this will place a direct financial value on hedgerows. The standards for the maintenance of land in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) will also require farmers to retain landscape features which include hedgerows.

There is also the 'space for nature' option in the Eco-Scheme to recognise farmers who commit a higher proportion of their land to biodiversity. Under the Eco-Scheme and ACRES, there are also hedgerow and tree planting options which will further incentivise farmers to plant trees and new hedgerows.