Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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60. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what interaction there has been with his Department and other Government Departments about the schemes currently underway and in the pipeline for renewable electricity production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25731/24]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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What interaction has there been between the Minister's Department and other Departments about the schemes under way and in the pipeline for renewable electricity production? Anyone who has attended any IFA meetings will know this is a key issue. At times they gripe about some of the schemes that are available for the use of wind turbines or solar panels. The one positive is the fact that many people are looking at these as possible solutions into the future and it is something we need to support.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The solar capital investment scheme under TAMS 3 is the main support provided by my Department for farmers wishing to invest in renewable energy. 

I launched this scheme in February 2023 and it is proving to be a hugely attractive scheme for farmers. It is closely aligned to our climate and sustainability needs through continued and enhanced support for renewable energy.  To help encourage on-farm renewable technology uptake and usage, grant aid is provided through TAMS to assist farmers in maximising their contribution to the production of renewable energy through the installation of solar PV technology, along with battery storage. The solar scheme is ring fenced with its own investment ceiling of €90,000, and will be grant aided at the enhanced rate of 60%. 

Applicants under TAMS 3 can receive the clean export guarantee payment for any electricity spill-over that may occur on a given day, as this is funded directly by the electricity companies. However, they are not eligible for any other payment, such as the clean export premium, as this would amount to double funding of the investment.

Adoption of sustainable energy practices at farm level, including energy efficiency, deployment of renewables and the provision of agricultural feedstocks for renewable energy generation, is a key climate pillar for the agriculture sector. The on-farm renewable energy generation activities of our farmers will contribute in a positive way to the decarbonisation of the energy system, providing a diversification opportunity for farmers who remain committed to playing their part in achieving our national climate change emission reduction goals. The energy sector falls under the remit of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with which my Department is in regular contact, and we will continue to avail of their expertise for enhancements to TAMS 3.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We all accept the huge body of work that needs to be done and acknowledge what has been done on decarbonisation and diversification. It is a matter of making sure we work alongside the agricultural stakeholders from the point of view of putting in place schemes that suit them. What engagement has the Minister and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, had with the various stakeholders and farming organisations regarding the provision of the most fit-for-purpose schemes possible, for solar, anaerobic digestion or wind turbines. I spoke to a farmer earlier today, who told me he had installed a wind turbine previously, but it is now not fit for purpose. Even fixing it would not suit him or the company that installed it. He is looking at the planning permission or whatever else is required to build something better and more fit for purpose now.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There is great potential in this area and there is great appetite among farmers as well. The scheme that is in place is really suitable for them to be able to meet their own needs and those of their farm. It can include the dwelling house as well. Battery storage is also grant aided at the rate of 60%. This means that farmers can store energy and be able to use it when needed. There is also the capacity for farmers to contribute more broadly through a feed-in tariff whereby there is investment outside of TAMS 3. The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications is putting in place tariffs to be able to pay farmers for that work. There is a real opportunity there. Farmers are always very innovative in looking for new opportunities and looking to maximise their capacity to contribute to society. They appreciate the economic potential of their farm and its resources. I think we will see significant uptake in the coming years and significant contribution from farmers to energy production through solar.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I agree with the Minister that farmers are always innovative. It is a matter of providing them with the supports and incentives in relation to this. Electricity and energy production benefits wider society and the farmers. We all talk about ensuring the sustainability of the family farm and we need to make sure the family farm is as sustainable as possible. I want to ask about widening these schemes and even beyond. If we are talking about a strategy in relation to anaerobic digestion, how we will go about doing it on the scale that works? We need to ensure we are not just producing materials to feed it and that it works overall for the farmer and the wider environment.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Over the past couple of weeks we published the anaerobic digestion or biomethane strategy. This lays out how we can produce 10% of all of our annual gas requirements by 2030 from farms, with grass in particular being very much at the centre of this. I was glad to attend a conference yesterday in Croke Park, organised by the Renewable Gas Forum Ireland, RGFI, with some 350 people from the industry involved. There was a really good energy there and there is an appetite to step forward and realise the potential for anaerobic digestion and biomethane production. In particular, we want to ensure farmers are the centre of this process and contributing significantly to energy production. I look forward to seeing that. The publication of the biomethane strategy and a whole-of-government approach to put in place a policy platform to see it develop was a landmark step forward.