Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

941. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he and his Department are taking to support farmers' efforts in biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24248/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Farmers and agricultural practices are critical in conserving and restoring biodiversity. My Department is supporting farmers in taking action on biodiversity across many fronts.

On a national scale, our flag-ship Agri-environment scheme, ACRES supports 55,000 farmers in taking action on the environment and in particular in respect of Bio-diversity. Approximately 20,000 farmers participate in results-based system under ACRES Co-operation (CP)and a further 12,000 farmers availing of the results based system under ACRES general. This model of supporting and encouraging farmers to maximise payments through maximising their delivery on the environment, termed 'payment for results', is a new and ambitious approach building on the learning's from the Burren scheme. Both ACRES General and ACRES CP actions focus on habitat and biodiversity improvement measures with over one million hectares for habitat condition. Payments of just over €453m have been paid to date to ACRES participants under the ACRES scheme.

Additionally, the ECO scheme element of our CAP supports rewards overs 100,000 farmers in providing Space for Nature. In excess of €250m was paid out in respect of 'Space for Nature' in 2024.

My Department also works in collaboration with the NPWS across many projects such as the Wild Atlantic Nature Project, and the conservation of Machair and Corncrake which have all been well received and support farmers in their biodiversity efforts. The deputy may have seen the success of the Corncrake conservation in the media last week and the Wild Atlantic Nature project received the 2024 EU "Working for Nature" award. These projects work with farmers and deliver for both nature and the farmer. My Department also supports European Innovation projects such as FarmPeat, FarmCarbon, Waters for Life and Breeding Waders.

I will continue to work with, and financially support farmers in their positive work for the environment, including biodiversity.