Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1702.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of a dairy herd reduction and compensation scheme equivalent to a 10% reduction in the overall size of the national dairy herd. [32956/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published its provisional greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland for 2023. The figures show a reduction of 6.8 per cent compared to 2022. Emissions from Agriculture decreased by 4.6% (-1.0 Mt CO2eq) in 2023. These emission reductions are very positive and show that agriculture is on the right path, especially following on from reductions in 2022. It is very encouraging to see the work that farmers are putting in on the ground reflected in the results. It’s important that we maintain this positive trajectory and continue in our efforts to achieve the commitment of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for agriculture by 2030.

I established the Food Vision Dairy Group in 2022 to advance the actions for the sector identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy, taking account of the requirement to contribute to achieving the targets set for agriculture emissions in the Climate Action Plan. The first priority was to chart a pathway to achieving the legally binding target of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 2030, equivalent to a reduction of 5.75 MT of carbon dioxide equivalent.

One of the recommendation of the Food Vision Dairy Group was to consider the potential of a voluntary reduction scheme for the dairy herd. However, stakeholder discussion showed that there was extremely limited interest in proceeding with such a scheme at this time.

It is also clear that there are a number of legal, financial and state aid complexities with designing and implementing a scheme of this nature. My Department’s examination of this issue has shown that to achieve emissions reductions through a herd reduction scheme would require a permanent move away from livestock production systems on lands under the scheme. I have been clear in my communication that I am taking the dairy cow reduction scheme off the table and that our collective priority must be on other actions.

It must be stressed that the context for exploring the potential of such a scheme was the requirement to meet Climate Action targets. As reported by the EPA, emissions from the agriculture sector have reduced again in 2023 for the second year in a row, so we are starting to see some positive momentum in our climate efforts for the sector.

My priority is to keep this momentum going by implementing the other measures in the Climate Action Plan which are feasible. At the same time, removing the uncertainty created by any discussion around a dairy cow reduction scheme will provide clarity and confidence to farmers who have decisions to make on farm be that investment or a succession strategy.