Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 April 2021
228. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the additional €79 million allocated for agri-environment and farm safety initiatives in Budget 2021 will be allocated; the amount of this funding sourced from the carbon fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21037/21]
View answerAn additional €79 million, including €23 million carbon tax, was provided in the budget to support action in the area of biodiversity, climate, environment and health and safety.
My intention is to allocate the funding as follows:
- Re-opening of the organic farming scheme €5m,
- Straw Incorporation measure (SIM) €10m,
- Agri-environment training for farmers €10m,
- REAP – Results based environment-agri pilot projects €10m,
- Soil sampling €10m,
- Farm Environmental Study €5m,
- TAMS environment €20m,
- Rewetting EIP – €3m,
- Continuous Professional Development for advisors €1m,
- Health and safety initiatives under EIP-AGRI €1m,
- Biodiversity actions for farmers and communities €1.25m and
- Peatland rejuvenation €3m.
EU approval is required and my Department has submitted the tenth amendment to the Rural Development Programme (RDP) to the European Commission for its approval, after which the final allocation of the €79 million funding will be decided.
