Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 6

Written Answers. - Greenhouse Gases.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

231 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will report on the work to date of the expert group established in his Department in 1998 to consider a range of policy options to reduce greenhouse gases; if these options include ensuring a specified increase in UAA land growing organically, mandatory composting using aerobic bacteria or vermiculture, or hedgerow and tree planting, in view of the Teagasc estimate that agriculture accounts for 34% of Irish sources of greenhouse gases. [3444/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Following consultation with the expert group my Department has estimated the level of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, including developments since 1990 and projections covering the period to 2008, and has also identified possible measures which might be pursued in the agriculture sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Tree planting has been identified as a possible option for achieving a significant reduction in greenhouse gases. However increased organic farming or mandatory composting using aerobic bacteria or vermiculture have not been identified to date as possible options that could make a significant contribution.

My Department continues to support the development of organic farming through the REP scheme, grants for processing and marketing of organic produce and through support for the organic certification bodies. In the period 2000-06, £1,500 million is available for the REP scheme and a sum of £6 million specifically for the development of the organic sector will be available in the two regional programmes under the national development plan.