Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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439. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how his Department intends to engage on the recently published report of the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity with regard to the potential impact of the report on agriculture and the farming community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19124/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department recognises that biodiversity is a keystone to our way of life and an important matter for us all.

Officials from my Department are currently considering the recommendations related to Agriculture within the report referred to by the Deputy. In many cases actions are already in place to deliver on the report's recommendations. In other cases the full implications of the recommendation needs to be considered as part of the Government's overall response to the report.

Biodiversity is already supported through a variety of schemes and programmes at national and local level, and I will continue, along with my colleagues in Government, to strive to improve our biodiversity.

Maintaining and improving biodiversity is a core objective within Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) which commenced in January. 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 change for the benefit of biodiversity".

In addition, as part of the CSP, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is building on the learnings from previous smaller projects, including the European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs), to increase the focus on results-based payments and the locally led approach especially through the ACRES Co-operation Projects where we expect to witness significant progress towards meeting biodiversity targets. I was happy to confirm acceptance of 46,000 farmers into the scheme recently.

Furthermore, the ambitious targets set for organic farming under the CSP, and the strong uptake we are already witnessing, will also contribute to meeting recommendations within the Citizens' Assembly's Report.

Outside the CSP, new initiatives such as the Native Woodland Establishment scheme and the Agro-forestry scheme will also help towards achieving our tree planting goals under the EU Biodiversity Strategy. Other schemes such as the Multi-Species Swards Measure and the Red Clover Silage Measure also aim to promote environmentally sustainable methods of farming which will not only have a positive impact on greenhouse gas emissions but will also lead to enhanced biodiversity, both above, and below ground, while addressing a further recommendation within the report.

Support and engagement with farmers, the custodians of our landscape, will remain a critical factor in achieving the our goals for biodiversity within Ireland.