Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2022
930. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will consider implementing a scheme to promote the growth of hedgerows on farms considering the positive environmental benefits associated with their growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32331/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra931. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the growth and maintenance of hedgerows on farms will be considered for inclusion under the new rural environmental protection scheme. [32332/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 930 and 931 together.
A new agri-environmental scheme to be known as the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (‘ACRES’), has been proposed as part of Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan which is currently with the EU Commission for approval. We havea committed €1.5 billion in funding for the scheme over the lifetime of the next CAP.
ACRES will be a really exciting and farmer-friendly scheme that will help address biodiversity decline while delivering an important income support for up to 50,000 farm families. This is the highest amount of money ever committed by a Government to a single agri-environmental scheme.
Using a habitats-based approach, delivered through both multi-functional prescription and results-based actions, ACRES aims to contribute significantly to achieving improved biodiversity, climate, air and water quality outcomes. These will be achieved through two approaches under the scheme:
- an ACRES General approach offering a range of actions (both prescription and results-based) for individual farmers to choose from; and
- an ACRES Co-operation Project approach, available to farmers in defined high priority geographical areas, who opt to undertake measures, as well as bespoke farm, and landscape actions. Farmers participating in this approach will have the assistance of a Local Cooperation Project (CP) Team, who will assist with implementation of the scheme at local level.
An outline of the proposed actions was provided at the CAP Information evenings held by my Department earlier this year. As indicated, it is proposed that there will be a range of field boundary actions (including planting new hedgerow, hedgerow rejuvenation coppicing and hedgerow rejuvenation laying) which farmers may opt to undertake under the ACRES General approach. As regards the ACRES Co-operation approach, the local CP Teams will be developing their Local Action Plans and engaging with participants in the relevant areas to determine actions.
It should be noted that approval for Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan is awaited from the EU Commission, so all of the proposals may be subject to change.
