Sorca Clarke
Question:390. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the next open call for funding for the European Innovation Partnership will be announced. [50548/23]
View answerTuesday, 21 November 2023
Questions (390)
Written answers
European Innovation Partnership (EIP-agri) projects are a successful vehicle for interested parties – farmers, scientists, etc. – to collaborate on a particular issue, trialling solutions on the ground.
Last July, along with my ministerial colleague Darragh O’Brien, TD, I announced the winning bidder, the Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO), following an open call for proposals for an EIP project tackling losses of nutrients from agricultural lands to water. This EIP is a collaboration between my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Following this successful model, officials from my Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) are currently finalising the requirements for an EIP related to breeding waders. I expect to announce the opening for that competitive call shortly.
In addition to this, the Department is developing an EIP-type project as part of the Just Transition Fund (JTF). The project would be focused on carbon capture from agricultural lands, including reduced management intensity. While this potential project is in the early stages of development, I expect much interest when the call is opened.
Finally, my officials are reviewing the results of a public consultation on themes for EIPs under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). Once the results are finalised, I expect to announce the first of the open calls under the CSP, early next year.