Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
2133. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he plans to open the agri-climate rural environment scheme to applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43288/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is the proposed new agri-environment climate measure which forms part of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), which I am pleased to advise was recently approved by the European Commission.
The approval of the draft CSP was an important step in the process. A number of steps, however, remain to be taken at national level to complete the process. The environmental assessments are being updated and will be completed shortly. These, along with the CSP, will then be brought to Government for final decision in the coming weeks. The CSP will then have completed all EU and national legal and administrative processes, and will enter into force on 1 January 2023.
Subject to completion of the remaining steps, as outlined above, it is proposed that advisors may apply, on behalf of their farmer clients, for ACRES in October/November 2022, and, for those applications which are approved, the associated ACRES contracts will start from 1 January 2023.
My Department has, in the meantime, made available the Farm Sustainability Plan (FSP) portal to enable ACRES advisors begin the process of developing farm plans in preparation for the formal submission of applications.
