Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
2123. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has advocated for the significant increase in the amount being spent in the next Common Agricultural Policy protecting biodiversity loss, climate and addressing water quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41060/22]
View answerOver the five-year period of the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, Pillar II, which covers Rural Development interventions such as those that address biodiversity loss and water quality, as well as combating climate change, has been allocated a budget of €3.86 billion.
In comparison to the previous programming period, this represents a significant increase in Pillar II funding from a number of perspectives.
For example, on a five-year comparison, it is more than €900 million higher than the actual spend on the previous Rural Development Programme from 2016-2020, and on a seven-year comparison, the overall allocation from 2021-2027 is €1.2 billion higher than that for the 2014-20 period.
A higher level of climate and environmental ambition will be achieved through a number of measures, including:
- a new €1.5 billion Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), which is targeted at 50,000 farmers;
- an ambitious €256 million Organic Farming Scheme, which aims to more than triple the area of agricultural land that is farmed organically by 2027, from 2% to 7.5%;
- a €260 million Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme;
- a €25 million Dairy Beef Welfare measure;
- a €100 million Sheep Improvement Scheme to improve productive efficiency, which is critically important in the context of delivering on climate ambitions;
- a €50 million Straw Incorporation Measure that will improve soil quality and lead to a reduction in chemical fertiliser usage.
- The combined allocation of funds for green interventions in Pillar II amounts to 67% of Pillar expenditure - almost double the regulatory target of 35%.
In the case of Pillar I (direct payments and sectoral interventions), expenditure of €5.97 billion has been allocated. Increased environmental and climate ambition will be achieved through the ring-fencing of 25% of the direct payments ceiling (€297 million annually, and just under €1.5 billion over the period of the CSP) for the delivery of suitable farming practices under a new Eco-Scheme, as well as a €35 million Protein Aid Scheme.
