Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 October 2020
266. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to establishing a targeted annual investment allowance which would focus on smart agriculture, renewable energy equipment and climate change mitigation infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29041/20]
View answerThe long term vision for the agricultural sector is an approach to carbon neutrality which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production. Our policy approach is based on three principles:
i reducing agricultural emissions
ii. increasing carbon sequestration; and
iii. displacing and substituting fossil fuel and energy intensive materials.
There are a significant number of measures already in place which support these principles.
The financial allocation in respect of Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) for the full Rural Development Programme period is €395m. To date, total expenditure, including transitional expenditure, has reached €244m with commitments of an additional €130m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those commitments. The scheme currently supports investment in smart agriculture such as GPS equipment, in renewable energy equipment including solar panels, energy efficient lighting and variable speed drives in milking equipment and in climate mitigation infrastructure such as trailing shoe technology for application of animal manures.
To date 31,843 applications have been approved under the scheme.
Ireland has outlined its support for the increased environmental and climate ambition as set out in the EU Commission’s proposals for the new CAP. Ireland has accepted the 40% target for the EU CAP budget, the 30% national target for Pillar II spending, and the introduction of mandatory ECO schemes. The CAP Strategic Plan will be a key enabler for the substantive delivery of new environment/climate measures at farm level, however, it requires agreement at EU level on the budget and legislation.
