Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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142. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the schemes available to farmers to improve the quality of hedgerows and to enable hedgerows to better support biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54984/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department will continue to support farmers in respect of hedgerows, and the many co-benefits they provide, through our CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). Hedgerows act as vital habitats and corridors for pollinators, birds and other wildlife, and play a key role in contributing to Ireland’s biodiversity and environmental ambitions.

My Department’s stakeholder led agri-food strategy, Food Vision 2030, has committed to a target of 10% of the farmed area to be prioritised for biodiversity. Hedgerows are a significant factor in achieving this target. There is an estimated 689,000 kms of hedgerows in the country, and my Department has implemented measures to protect and enhance the network of hedgerows on agricultural land under the CAP Strategic Plan.

Our Eco Scheme rewards farmers for supporting biodiversity. Moreover, in 2025, 85% of farmers selected the Eco-Scheme agricultural practice 1 ‘Space for Nature’ option, requiring a minimum of either 7% or 10% space for nature on their land to qualify. This practice aims to contribute to halting and reversing biodiversity loss, enhancing ecosystem services and preserving habitats and landscapes.

Hedgerows, while a dominant habitat on most Irish farms, can be improved. Ireland's flagship Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), supports the planting of new hedgerows and rejuvenation of existing hedgerows. Two specific hedgerow rejuvenation actions in ACRES seek to improve their quality, extend their lifespan and enable those hedgerows to better support biodiversity in the future. Over 2,300km of new hedgerows have been planted by over 6,300 participants in ACRES, with over 11,000 participants committing to the maintenance and improvement of existing hedgerows through the coppicing and laying actions.

The contribution of ACRES to the quality and extent of hedgerows may increase following the implementation of Non-Productive Investments (NPIs), which are complementary environmental actions available to farmers in the ACRES Co-operation approach. Two of the NPI actions available to those participants are hedgerow rejuvenation and planting new hedgerows.

Additionally, there are some 870 kilometres of field boundaries that are supported through ACRES. These also aim to support wild bird and pollinator populations.