Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2023
397. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a young farmer who started farming in 2023, who has a herd number and who applied for BISS in 2023 and who has leased land for five years in January 2023 can enter the new tranche of ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50731/23]
View answerThe Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES, is the central agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. It is a flagship agri-environmental project with funding of €1.5bn committed over the scheme lifetime. This is the largest amount ever committed to an agri-environment scheme. ACRES will play a huge role in driving environmental improvements while also providing crucial income support to farm families.
In advance of the publication of the Terms and Conditions for Tranche 2 of ACRES an Overview document in respect of ACRES Tranche 2 has been made available on my Department's website. This Overview document gives some key information on Tranche 2 and is, with other relevant information, available at gov.ie - Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) (www.gov.ie)
As stated in this document, one of the eligibility requirements for a farmer to participate in Tranche 2 of ACRES is the submission of a Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application for 2022. A further requirement is that all lands must also be declared in the applicant’s 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application (and declared on the applicant’s BISS application for all subsequent years of participation). A farmer who does not have a BPS 2022 or BISS 2023 will not therefore be eligible for Tranche 2 of ACRES.
