Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2024
355. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the scoring for the ACRES, if farmers can be advised of what their scoring is; if farmers will be given time to rectify the issues that exist in the case of low scores; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38527/24]
View answerA summary report of the scores achieved is issued to all relevant ACRES participants following the processing of their annual payment. This sets out the scores achieved for each parcel, and includes management tips on how to maintain or improve the score and thereby increasing payments in subsequent years.
These summaries are made available to farmers in the document manager in their AgFood account, followed by a hard copy by post. Over 26,000 summary reports have now issued in respect of Scheme year 2023 results-based actions, as well as a further 6,300 commonage scorecard reports.
It is recommended that participants discuss the scores with the relevant assessor in the first instance, in order to gain an understanding of the basis for the score (a range of factors is considered, which in turn depends on the type of scorecard that is relevant to the land in question). A participant may contact my Department to obtain the contact details of the group or individual that assessed their commonage if they are unsure how to make contact with them.
It is important to note that the relevant land is scored three times over the five-year contractual period - the first scoring is carried out in year 1 in order to establish baseline values, and the land is scored again in years three and five. Participants can declare on their their annual claim, under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability if they wish to amend the years that the lands are scored, or have the lands scored in additional years.
Non Productive Investments (NPIs) are also an integral part of the ACRES scheme, and are available to Co-operation stream participants to help them improve field scores and, hence, increase their overall ACRES payment. Despite challenges with the issuing of approvals arising from the first application window, I expect these to commence before the end of the year. I was also pleased to announce the opening of the second NPI application window on 17 September, and I encourage all CP farmers to avail of the funding available to them through uptake of these important environmental investments.
