I propose to take Questions Nos. 1284 and 1285 together.
There are two approaches within the new ACRES scheme - an ACRES General approach and an ACRES Co-Operation approach. The ACRES Co-Operation approach is available to farmers in defined high priority geographical areas with the ACRES General approach available nationally outside those areas.
The map of the eight Co-operation Project (CP) zones for the ACRES Co-operation approach was produced by an interdepartmental working group with representatives from my Department, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), EPA and LAWPRO. This working group agreed the rationale and workflow for the mapping process to ensure fairness across the Scheme.
As regards the basis for the designations, the NPWS provided and reviewed nature data for the mapping process, with the selection of the zones for the ACRES Co-operation approach based on the following designations/criteria:
- SACs
- SPAs
- NHAs
- All offshore islands
- Burren region
- Corncrake LIFE areas
- Breeding Hen Harrier Regions
- Curlew breeding areas
- Wild Atlantic Nature areas
- River sub-basins known to have large areas of Annex I grasslands
- Blue Dot Catchments
Farmers with three hectares or more, or 20% or more of the farm holding (whichever is the lower), declared as forage/habitat in their 2021 BPS, falling within an ACRES Co-operation area may only apply for the ACRES Co-operation approach. The relevant forage crop codes are listed in Annex 4 of the Scheme Terms and Conditions, which are available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/ACRES.
A farmer may only apply for the ACRES General if their holding falls outside of the high priority geographical area as defined for the ACRES Co-operation approach. A map of the eight designated zones may also be found on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/ACRES along with other Scheme material.
Where an applicant considers, given the criteria above, that they have been assigned to the incorrect approach, either General or Co-operation, they should contact their advisor in the first instance. The advisor, if in agreement that the applicant has been assigned to the wrong stream, should then contact my Department outlining the basis for their view and this will be reviewed.
