Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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345. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the main policy achievements of his Department since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27955/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Since publication of the Programme for Government (PFG) in June 2020, my Department has identified and examined 161 actions in the Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Chapter. My Department is the lead organisation in 148 of these actions, and is reporting 76% of those as either target achieved or substantial action undertaken & ongoing, with another 20% reported as commenced & progressing.

Some of my main policy achievements include:

• In August 2021, Food Vision 2030 was launched, the stakeholder led strategy for the continuing development of the agri-food sector in Ireland. Food Vision is a landmark for the Irish agri-food sector with the potential to transform our agriculture, food, forestry and marine sectors in the period to 2030, with sustainability in all its dimensions (environmental, economic and social) at its core. The Food Vision Dairy Group and the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group have produced reports, representing a broad consensus on the key requirements in the context of the sector’s sustainability obligations. In addition, the Food Vision Tillage Group Report highlights the significant role the tillage sector plays in Ireland’s food and feed security and our ambition to grow the sector.
• On 1 January 2023, Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) for the period 2023 to 2027 came into effect. The plan will deliver €9.8 billion over the next five years and provide vital support to farmers and rural communities to ensure the continued viability of family farms, maximising the environmental and social sustainability of the sector.
• I delivered a payment of €200 euro per suckler cow and doubled the payments available to the sheep sector from €10 to €20 per ewe.
• I continue to work closely with all stakeholders in gaining, maintaining, restoring and enhancing access for Irish agri-food products to a wide range of priority markets. This includes participating in an ongoing programme of trade missions and promotional activities, in cooperation with Bord Bia. Secured access to new markets for beef with China reopened, and South Korea opened for the first time as well as access to the United States for Irish lamb. Agri-food exports were valued at €18.3 billion in 2023.
• The agriculture, food and marine sectors continue to play a leadership role in delivering on the ambitions target which culminate in a whole-of-economy 51% reduction in emissions by 2030. Policies and strategies devised by my Department are bearing fruit with emissions from agriculture trending downwards, which marked an important reversal of what had been a steady upwards trend since the lowest emissions were reported in 2011. I have introduced measures to achieve abatement potential in the agriculture sector, backed by financial commitment including a budget of €1.5 billion for the new agri-environment scheme ACRES, a five-fold increase in funding for Organic Farming to €256 million to triple the area to 7.5% of utilised agricultural area, €260 million to improve the carbon efficiency of the suckler herd through genetic improvement, and €43 million for a major genotyping programme for Irish cattle, which will enhance the environmental sustainability, health and productivity of Irish beef and dairy herds.
• The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 has been published. It was created in alignment with Ireland’s new Forest Strategy and will be the main implementation mechanism for this Strategy in the immediate to short term. This €1.3 billion funded Programme is the best-funded, most environmentally friendly programme in the history of the State.
• We continue to implement schemes developed as a result of the recommendations of the Seafood Sector Taskforce. I have provided funding of €305.5m to support these schemes such as the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme, the Brexit Sustainable Aquaculture Growth Scheme, and the Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme. This is in addition toa programme of capital investment in our sea fishery harbours. I have just announced the opening of four new schemes, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027 (EMFAF), which deliver important elements of the €258 million Seafood Development Programme.
• The Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023 was signed into law by the President on 11th July 2023 and An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri-Food Regulator) was formally established in December 2023.
• The area of research and development is a key focus for my Department, with a budget now standing at €22.45 million. This will be used to drive greater innovation in our agriculture and food sectors as we position Irish agriculture as a leader in sustainable food production.
• The publication of the new National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 highlights the potential of the horticulture sector to play a key role in the achievement of our vision for the Irish agrifood sector, both economically and environmentally.
• Other points of note recently include the publication of Ireland’s first National Bioeconomy Action Plan for the period 2023-2025 and the new National Biomethane Strategy in May 2024.