Brendan Griffin
Question:240. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when applications will open for the voluntary dairy cow scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40850/23]
View answerThursday, 21 September 2023
Questions (240)
Written answers
I established the Food Vision Dairy Group as well as the Food Vision Beef & Sheep Group last year to advance the actions for the beef and sheep, and dairy sectors identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy, taking account of the requirement for the sectors to contribute to achieving the targets set for agriculture emissions in the Climate Act process.
The first priority for both Groups was to chart a pathway to achieving the legally binding target of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 2030, equivalent to a reduction of 5.75 MT of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Both the Dairy and Beef & Sheep Groups submitted their final reports towards the end of 2022, which have been published. The reports identified measures which could contribute to reducing emissions. The publication was timely as it then served to inform the Climate Action Plan 2023 which was launched in December 2022.
A key recommendation of the Food Vision Dairy Group was to explore and take forward a voluntary reduction scheme for the dairy herd. My officials are currently working to explore this further and there will be significant engagement with stakeholders over the coming months on the parameters of any such scheme.
However no decision has been taken by Government to proceed with such a scheme, and no Exchequer funding provision is currently in place for such a scheme. I will work collectively and collaboratively with farmers and their representatives in charting a pathway forward.