Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018
59. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many farmers in the west of the country are now experiencing problems with slurry disposal due to bad weather; and his plans to carry out a study into the feasibility of establishing bio-digestive systems to avoid disposal crises due to worsening climate conditions and to ensure safe disposal of slurry. [7158/18]
View answerWe are aware of reports of difficulties regarding slurry disposal linked to bad weather. Regarding slurry management, under the Good Agriculture Practice (Nitrates) Regulations, farmers are required to have adequate manure storage for all their animals. With respect to water, the Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters Regulations obliges farmers to ensure precautions are taken when spreading organic and inorganic fertilisers.
The Government recognises that indigenous renewable energy plays a vital role in our domestic fuel mix and there is an opportunity to encourage the utilisation of agricultural waste as an alternative source of energy. My Department is committed to working closely with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment which is the lead Department in the renewable energy area.
My Department recognises the valuable role that a resource-efficient agriculture sector can play in this regard. In particular, given the interest from industry in mobilising biomethane, my Department is collaborating closely with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment to consider the potential for anaerobic digestion to contribute to Ireland’s significant renewable energy and GHG targets, and promotes the development of Ireland’s bioeconomy.
Additionally, the agriculture sector has been focused on the supply of bioenergy feedstock, whether from biomass in the form of wood products such as forest thinnings and wood fuel, animal by-products or other agri-food by-products such as straw, slurries and processing waste. Crops can also be grown specifically as biomass.
The agriculture and forest sector has a critical role to play in contributing to our national climate change ambitions and bioenergy represents a key component of that contribution.
