Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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89. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline in percentage terms the amount of last year's reported reductions in agricultural emissions that can be attributed to revisions to the sector's baseline emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38157/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Environmental Protection Agency’s report of July 2024 “Ireland’s Provisional Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990 - 2023” sets out that Agriculture emissions decreased by 4.6% in 2023.

It is very encouraging to see the positive progress that Agriculture has made in reducing emissions. This result reflects the work that farmers are putting in on the ground and the Government supports in place to incentive this work.

The EPA report details that this reduction was primarily due to an 18% reduction in chemical fertiliser nitrogen, a 26.6% decrease in liming and a 2.1% reduction in Methane emissions from livestock in 2023. The report sets out that 100% of this 4.6% reduction in 2023 was as a result of reductions in GHG emissions from the agricultural sector.

In addition, there were some significant Agriculture Inventory refinements set out in the July 2024 report.

The report sets out that two important changes occurred resulting in the estimates of Methane and Nitrous Oxide emissions associated with the non-dairy cattle and sheep categories being revised. These revisions have reduced the Agriculture sector emissions by, on average, 1.4 Mt CO2eq per annum for the years 2018 to 2023. This has not contributed to the percentage reduction in emissions cited above.

Agriculture has laid a solid foundation to deliver a downwards emission trajectory over the coming years. It is important that we maintain this positive trajectory and continue in our efforts to achieve the commitment of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for agriculture by 2030.

The commitment of the farming sector to reducing emissions is mirrored by this Government in the provision of funding, circa €4.1 billion, in support of agri-environmental practices under the current Common Agricultural Policy as well as significant investment in research and development.