Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
1222. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new CAP proposals provide specific enhanced supports to diversification of land use or land management in the period ahead to activities with a lower carbon equivalent; the detail of the enhanced supports; and the projected uptake of each. [52900/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s CAP Strategic Plan is still under development. However, it is proposed that it will provide specific enhanced supports to diversification of land use/land management to activity with a lower carbon equivalent. It is intended to achieve this through a coherent approach across several areas, as set out below.
The proposed definition of land eligibility for Direct Payments under the CAP will reduce the incentive for farmers to clear features beneficial for biodiversity and climate from their land.
This revised definition is expected to make an additional 55,000 hectares of land eligible for Direct Payments. The definition will also allow land used for paludiculture, or involved in national or EU-funded schemes for biodiversity or greenhouse gas reductions, including State-funded forestry, to continue to qualify for Direct Payments.
The new Eco-Scheme will encourage farmers to devote more land to non-productive areas and landscape features, as well as to the planting of native trees. The aim is to engage as many farmers as possible in this voluntary scheme.
Support for organic farming will increase, with a view to achieving 7.5% of utilised agricultural land under organic production by 2027.
The flagship Agri-Environmental and Climate Measure is proposed to engage 50,000 farmers. It will support various sub-actions including a number promoting diversification of land use/land management.
These include reduced management intensity of peatland under agricultural use, appropriate drainage management on peatland, appropriate tree and hedgerow planting as well as sub-actions contributing to reduced fertiliser use.
There will also be support to maintain arable land use, particularly arable land contributing to environmental outputs.
This is intended to be complimented by a Straw Incorporation Measure which will operate on an annual basis to enhance the carbon pool in arable soils. In addition, it is proposed to increase support for domestic production of protein crops.
