Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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753. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide funding for renewable gas production by anaerobic digesters from grass and slurry on farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3960/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Firmly rooted in the Sectoral Emission Ceiling (SEC) of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) for agriculture is the delivery of indigenous production of up to 5.7 Twh of biomethane via Anaerobic Digestion (AD).

While  energy policy formation, including renewable energy, is the direct responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), my department continues to engage with DECC on all energy related matters from an agricultural perspective, including the development of an Anaerobic Digestion industry, as well as a wide range of industry and other stakeholder groupings.

In recognition of the scale of the AD industry required to deliver the 5.7 Twh of biomethane, building on an AD sector that is at a nascent stage of development in Ireland, there is a need to agree a strategic direction and delivery mechanism across government as the first key step.

It is clear from experience in other jurisdictions where AD is well established that there is a need for support to kick start an industry here in Ireland to realise the potential as set out above. In doing so requires an all-of-government approach and my department with DECC have committed to delivering a National Biomethane Strategy to identify how best to mobilise the 5.7 Twh. This is a commitment within  the Climate Action Plan 2023. A project steering group will be established shortly under the auspices of the Heat and Built Environment Task Force, which is expected to meet in the coming weeks. This will be the first important step in realising the potential that AD can offer.  Financial considerations will be a key element of the formation of this strategy and the Climate Action Plan 2023 commitment o fassessing available financial opportunities and mobilise these funds where available which be important in this regard.

As part of Budget 2023 I have already committed to diverting carbon tax money to provide support to kick-start an AD industry in Ireland and I see this support as integral to any financial funding package that may be available to Anaerobic Digestion in Ireland and which will be guided by the outcome of the National Biomethane Strategy.   

I believe that Anaerobic Digestion and the production of renewable gas (biomethane) has a key role to play in the decarbonisation of our energy system and provides an income and land use diversification opportunity for farmers and an area that I firmly support. The result will be an increase in our capability and capacity across the agriculture sector and the bioeconomy in general.