Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2021
256. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the €79 million fund announced in Budget 2021 to assist farmers with environmental projects; the amount and projects spent or announced to date; the balance left; his plans for other projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23449/21]
View answerI secured an additional €79 million, including €23 million carbon tax, in Budget 2021 to support action in the area of biodiversity, climate, environment and health and safety, all the while supporting farm incomes.
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.
