Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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488. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a detailed breakdown of how carbon reduction targets are being assigned within the agricultural sector; whether these targets are being set in a fair and balanced manner compared to other industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4590/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is committed to achieving climate neutrality no later than 2050 with a 51% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030. These legally binding objectives are set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021.

The Climate Act supports Ireland’s transition to net-zero and the achievement of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050. It also establishes a legally binding framework with clear targets and commitments, to ensure the necessary structures and processes are in place to deliver our national, EU and international climate goals and obligations in the near and long term. Against this background, strategies must be devised to reduce and manage climate change risks through a combination of mitigation and adaptation responses.

The Climate Act requires a reduction in annual emissions for Agriculture (on 2018) of 25% by 2030. This compares to a 75% reduction assigned in Electricity, 50% in Transport and a 35% reduction in Industrial emissions.

While meeting the ambitious target for Agriculture will be challenging for all stakeholders, the level of ambition is consistent with what is required if we are to meet the National emission reduction commitments, and recognises the specific challenges of each sector.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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489. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how he intends to ensure that Irish farmers are adequately compensated for their role in carbon sequestration, particularly in maintaining hedgerows and grasslands that contribute positively to climate goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4591/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The government has on an ongoing basis developed policy and implemented schemes through both National and European funding that provides for carbon sequestration at farm level including through hedgerow maintenance and soil management. The current CAP strategic Plan provides the overarching mechanism for supporting farmers in the maintenance of hedgerows and grassland. This includes the National Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) which offers a range of actions for individual farmers. In addition, the development of other initiatives such as the National liming scheme supports carbon sequestration on grassland. These strategically support Ireland contributing positively to our climate goals.

In addition, there may be some potential in the development of carbon farming to provide an additional policy approach to supporting carbon sequestration. I am committed to developing a National Framework for Carbon Farming which will encompass carbon removal, emissions reduction activities and co-benefits for biodiversity and to provide guidance to farmers and landowners in Ireland on the overarching principles needed to develop Carbon Farming. This aligns with similar work underway at EU level. My Department held a public consultation in September 2023 on Carbon Farming, and positive feedback was received from stakeholders regarding the potential opportunities in this area with further engagement is planned to inform future policy developments.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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490. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given the emphasis on reducing livestock numbers as a climate strategy, if he will confirm if a full socio-economic impact assessment has been conducted on the consequences of such measures for rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4592/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Climate Action Plan provides a roadmap to meet our national climate objective of a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy by 2050. It aligns with the legally binding economy-wide carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings that were agreed by Government in July 2022.

The Climate Action Plan (2024) includes a variety of actions to meet these targets in the agriculture sector, including measures to support livestock farming. These include measures to improve the genetic quality of the bovine herd, to adopt more sustainable practices to fertilise land, and to research and adopt new technologies to mitigate emissions, such as feed and manure additives.

The Climate Action Plan 2024 does not include any direct action to reduce livestock numbers. It does, however, include actions to provide livestock farmers with the opportunity to explore voluntary options for diversification of their farm enterprises. These options include diversification into tillage organics or forestry, or supplying feed for ag-centric biomethane production. These options are intended to provide alternative economic opportunities for those engaged in livestock farming, and are entirely voluntary.