Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
1827. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person who has been willed a farm holding as a sole beneficiary but probate has not yet been completed can participate in the ACRES scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1138/23]
View answerIn preparation for the launch of ACRES, my Department undertook a review of operational and contractual issues that could potentially impact on scheme delivery and farmer participation. This review concluded that, while it is important to support the broadest possible spectrum of farmer participation, there were difficulties with cases going through probate.
Under EU regulations, the Department is obliged to ensure that contracts offered remain active and fully managed for a minimum contract term of five years. ACRES is a five-year commitment which requires the identification of land parcels, actions and the person responsible for contract delivery at the application stage.
Where succession questions are outstanding, it is unclear at application or approval stage with whom the Department would be contracting in the longer term, and who will have final control of the land entering the scheme. For this reason, ACRES applications cannot be accepted on land which is currently the subject of probate.
