Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
83. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the environmental standards and nature protection provisions his Department oversees; the level of activity of enforcement in each case, covering inspections, issuing of notices and prosecution; and if he plans to step up activity. [46965/23]
View answerMy Department supports farmers in the delivery of biodiversity through voluntary actions, such as agri-environmental schemes but also by implementing regulations designed to protect our biodiversity.
In the first instance, conditionality controls in respect of Common Agricultural policy payments are part of this approach.
Conditionality is a set of Statutory Management Requirements (SMR's) and Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) standards set out in EU Regulation 2021/2115 and included in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan.
The Conditionality SMR's dealing specifically with Climate and Environment include water abstraction and protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates and phosphates and conservation of wild birds and natural habitats dealing with parts of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.
The 9 GAEC's cover a range of standards related to soil, water and ‘space for nature.’ These combine to provide protection for water and soil as well as important habitats and ecosystems.
Payments to CAP beneficiaries are linked to the mandatory requirements under Conditionality. At least 1% of all beneficiaries under CAP Direct Payments are selected for Conditionality inspection annually, equating to at least 1,350 inspections in 2023. Any non-compliances identified are sanctioned with more serious breaches receiving a higher sanction. In the case of re-occurrence, where the same non-compliance is detected again within three calendar years, a higher sanction applies.
In addition to conditionality, maintaining and improving biodiversity is a core objective within Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). The introduction of a new definition of land eligibility for direct payments under the CSP is already ensuring farmers are not restricted in their ambition to make changes for the benefit of biodiversity with areas of scrub now eligible within parcels The Eco-Scheme and the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) both have a strong focus on biodiversity.
Ireland's Eco-Scheme, new voluntary scheme under Pillar I of CAP where farmers have to undertake specific actions on their farms to receive payment has one of the highest farmer participation rates across the EU with 97% of all applicants applying. This scheme includes actions to provide for up to 10% 'space for nature on farms'.
Under the first tranche of ACRES an unprecedented 46,000 farmer applicants were accepted to participate in the programme across ACRES General and in high priority landscape areas through the ACRES Co-operation Projects.
In addition the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations cover three different types of on farm activities including restructuring of rural land holdings, commencing to use uncultivated land or semi-natural areas for agriculture and land drainage works for agriculture. Certain thresholds are in place where screening and consent applications are required to be submitted to my department and works can only proceed where it is identified that there wont be a negative environmental impact. This is a key piece of legislation to protect important habitats. There is currently a review of these Regulations which commenced in 20223 and is ongoing.
Finally, I firmly believe that support and engagement with farmers, the custodians of our landscape, will remain a critical factor in achieving our biodiversity goals.
