Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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453. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures in place to support biodiversity restoration; and to provide examples of where these are having an impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67038/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department is supporting farmers in the critical work that they undertake in conserving and restoring nature and biodiversity, across many fronts.

The Deputy may be aware that I secured an allocation of €280m funding in the 2026 budget for the flagship agri-environment scheme, ACRES.

Almost 54,000 farmers are participating in ACRES. These farmers are undertaking actions that support nature, biodiversity and the environment. Both ACRES General and ACRES CP actions focus on habitat and biodiversity improvement measures with over one million hectares scored for habitat condition.

By way of example of impact, some 870 kilometres of field boundaries are supported through ACRES providing ecosystem services including in relation to wild bird and pollinator populations.

My Department's ECO Scheme rewards over 100,000 farmers in providing Space for Nature.

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.

My Department also supports some 100,000 farmers through the Areas of Natural Constraint scheme, this land tends to have a high value in terms of nature and biodiversity.

Forestry is a key support of nature and biodiversity. Funding of €93 million for the forestry sector was secured in the 2026 budget, which is a 5.7% increase on the 2025 allocation.

Earlier this year I announced the awarding of €17.8 million to eleven European Innovation Partnership projects (EIP's) on the theme of environmental sustainability.

These key projects will promote regenerative agriculture practices to restore soil health, enhance biodiversity and improve the resilience of Irish farming systems. This builds on the existing catalogue of successful EIPs supported by my Department such as Waters for Life and Breeding Waders projects.

My Department is committed to supporting farmers and foresters in respect of nature restoration in 2026.