Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2021
74. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the involvement his Department has in European Union LIFE Projects; if there are plans for future projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60680/21]
View answerIreland’s success in achieving EU LIFE funding for several important species and habitat conservation projects is a positive story for biodiversity and for inter Department engagement which is needed to tackle the biodiversity crisis.
My Department is a co-contributor to several recent LIFE projects – involved both through financial support and also having expert staff directly involved in this important conservation work.
Two large-scale Agri-environment projects that commenced this year are the Wild Atlantic Nature (WAN) LIFE IP and Corncrake LIFE, of which the Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine (DAFM) are a key beneficiary in partnership with National Parks and Wildlife (NPWS).
WAN is co-ordinated by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and aims to support appropriate and sensitive habitat management in blanket bog areas from Galway to Donegal through a results-based payments scheme along with other community supports and innovations. DAFM were involved in the design of the results-based measure and also provide funding to the project.
Corncrake LIFE, also co-ordinated by DHLGH, is working with farmers and landowners to improve the habitat conditions and range of Corncrake areas in the west and north-west of the country. DAFM were involved in the design of the results-based measure and provide funding to the project.
A further two new LIFE Agri-environment projects that have recently been approved are Lough Carra LIFE and Machair LIFE, of which DAFM are a key beneficiary.
Machair Life is co-ordinated by DHLGH and along with providing funding DAFM will be designing a results-based measure for this grassland habitat.
Lough Carra Life is co-ordinated by Mayo Co. Co. and as well as providing funding DAFM will again be involved in developing a Result-based measures for farmers in the catchment.
Two other projects we are involved in are the Peatland and People Life project, which examines best practice in peatland restoration and rehabilitation and finally the Waters for Life project which supports measures to protect and enhance high ecological status water bodies.
It is our intention to continue to explore involvement with future Life projects that contribute to the goals and policies of this Department in areas like biodiversity, climate, and water quality in collaboration with other gov departments.
