Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
77. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the basis on which the areas of natural constraint scheme is considered by his Department to be an agri-environmental scheme; the environmental benefits that derive from the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46999/23]
View answerThe Areas of Natural Constraints scheme provides payments to people farming land in designated areas who face significant hardships from factors such as remoteness, difficult topography, climatic problems, and poor soil conditions.
Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 underpins the sustainable development of Ireland’s agriculture sector by:
• supporting viable farm incomes and enhancing competitiveness.
• contributing to the achievement of environmental and climate objectives at national and EU levels.
In doing so, Ireland’s CSP seeks to meet specific objectives set out in EU legislation.
Specific objectives of Ireland's CSP outline the need to restore, maintain and improve Ireland’s habitats and landscapes to halt biodiversity decline, including farmland birds and pollinators.
The Area of Specific and Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme addresses this objective due to minimum stocking rate requirements that Ireland has developed to protect biodiversity and habitats. Without a minimum stocking rate land would be under grazed which would have a negative impact on biodiversity.
Through the minimum stocking rate requirement, payments under this scheme will encourage the continued management of this agricultural land, contributing to biodiversity as well as to maintaining and promoting sustainable farming systems.
I would like to emphasise that direct payments are a valuable source of income support for all farmers across the agri-food sector with analysis showing that these payments are of particular importance to farms situated in areas of natural and other specific constraints.
In Ireland, 75% of Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA) is situated in areas of natural constraint in 2019, the 7th highest of all EU-27 countries. Without direct support, farming in these areas may not be viable and this could lead to the abandonment of agricultural land which would damage the rural economy, biodiversity and the future viability of the agri-food sector.
High Nature Value farming occurs most frequently in areas that are mountainous, or in areas where natural constraints prevent intensification; and that grazing on these agricultural areas can be an important component of maintaining certain habitats. Rewarding farmers for wider environmental services, such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity on their farms is necessary to ensure the continued viability of these farms.
The ANC Scheme will continue to ensure that landscapes and habitats can be maintained through appropriate farmland management and the avoidance of land abandonment.
