Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022
756. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government has a 2030 or intermediary target for the adoption of multi-species swards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12563/22]
View answerThe Department acknowledges the importance of measures like Multi-species sward in contributing to meeting our targets around climate emissions, water quality and biodiversity.
The recently submitted draft CAP Strategic Plan to the European Commission included a range of eco-schemes now being considered by the EU Commission and subject to Commission approval
One of the eight agricultural practices proposed by Ireland as part of its eco scheme submission is a measure for sowing multi-species sward. Under this practice, a farmer will be required to sow multi-species sward on at least 6% of the eligible hectares in the year the farmer selects this agricultural practice.
A target reduction in chemical Nitrogen usage by 2030 to 325,000 been set, with multi-species usage just one of the actions identified as a means to achievement of this target.
