Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2024
531. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can clarify the measures in place to ensure equal opportunity for all farmers in the ACRES programme (details supplied); the plans to approve all applications which were submitted in the ACRES program's second tranche; if the ACRES programme will be expanded to accommodate the high volume of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10820/24]
View answerThe purpose of the ACRES scheme is to help farmers to address a range of environmental, climate and biodiversity and challenges, and to contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in this respect in Ireland's 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan. The tiered structure, and the criteria for acceptance into the Scheme, were therefore designed to optimise the extent to which the Scheme actions could contribute to those objectives.
As I have stated previously, I have committed to permitting 50,000 participants in the Scheme, in accordance with Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan and I will deliver on that commitment.
