Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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651. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports the are in place for small farmers transitioning to more sustainable and regenerative practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31885/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to supporting the long-term viability of the Irish agricultural sector, including our farm families who are the bedrock of the sector, our agri-food industry and indeed the rural economy.

At the same time, Ireland’s national and EU ambitions on climate, land use and biodiversity are challenging and will require the application of the best scientific and technological advancements available coupled with engagement of all stakeholders if we are to meet both national and international commitments.

Pathways to enable the sector meet it’s 2030 climate ambitions in the agricultural and land use sectors are set out in the Climate Action Plan which is now reviewed and updated annually in accordance with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2021.

Ireland’s Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan is supporting all our farmers to transition to more sustainable practices while also supporting family farm incomes, with a budget of €9.8bn.

As part of Ireland’s Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan my department is providing €1.5bn for the agri-environment scheme ACRES, increased funding for Organic Farming which has increased the area farmed organically in Ireland to 248,000 ha and €260m to improve the carbon efficiency of the suckler herd. A budget of €1.3bn underpins the Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027 which is supporting farmers to carbon capture in a sustainable way. 

My Department also supports a range of other sustainability measures, including improvement in animal welfare, investments in solar panels on farms, low-emission slurry spreading, nutrient storage, support for multi species swards and many other measures.

My aim is to future proof Ireland’s Agri-Food sector for the benefit of our industry, the environment, and our farm families. It is critical that we work together to keep the agricultural sector in Ireland on a positive trajectory including sustainable and regenerative practices.