Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2019
73. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the reintroduction of a rural environmental protection scheme will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41380/19]
View answerI want to take this opportunity to emphasise my commitment to agri-environment schemes in general which recognise the vital role farmers play in delivering public goods which will enhance Ireland’s sustainability credentials into the future. This was demonstrated by the extra €5million allocated to agri-environment schemes in the recent budget, bringing the total allocation for 2020 to almost €235 million.
My Department has a strong record in the delivery of agri-environmental schemes beginning with the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) which commenced in 1994. The subsequent Agri-Environment schemes, the Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) and the Green Low Carbon Agri -Environment Scheme (GLAS), have also proved to be very popular with farmers. In the case of GLAS, which was introduced under the Rural Development Programme for the period 2014-2020, the original target of 50,000 participants was surpassed well ahead of target.
As regards the proposals for new regulations for the CAP 2021-27 which were launched in June 2018 by Commissioner Hogan, the proposals, as drafted, involve significant changes, including in relation to governance, the distribution of direct payments among farmers and the increasing environmental conditionality attaching to such payments.
Decisions on any future agri-environment schemes, will be informed by the final outcome of CAP negotiations and the available budget. Negotiations on the draft proposals are continuing at EU level. While significant progress has been made to date, decisions on key issues have yet to be agreed at EU level. In the meantime, I would encourage all stakeholders to engage with the ongoing national CAP consultation process and let their views be known on future agri-environment policy.
