Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
786. 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 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49702/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to the approval by the Government last week (Tuesday, 4 October 2022) of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023 – 2027, my Department is currently finalising the details of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), including the Scheme Terms and Conditions.
A lot of information has already been provided, including the final Specifications for the actions which an applicant may opt for under the ACRES General approach. I appreciate that the opening of the Scheme will create a significant workload for approved ACRES advisors. My Department has taken a number of steps to alleviate this pressure, including the provision of access to my Department’s Generic Land Management (GLAM) system to enable advisors to undertake preparatory work on the ACRES Farm Sustainability Plan (FSP) which must be submitted with the ACRES application. My Department has also made tutorials available, on its website, to assist advisors in preparing those Plans.
As certain information was made available subject to the approval of the CSP, my Department is providing an update webinar to advisors today (11 October 2022) to outline any changes to the draft documents in the interim. A video giving a demonstration of the application screen is also being provided. These updates are being provided with a view to opening the ACRES system in the next few days for the submission of applications. Advisors will be notified directly when it opens and I will also formally announce it.
€1.5 billion in funding has been committed to ACRES over the lifetime of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which represents the largest single investment by any Government in an agri-environmental scheme. Given the potential environmental and climate benefits to be derived from implementation of the Scheme, and the revenue for farmers, I encourage farmers to participate in the Scheme.
This overall budget allocation will facilitate the participation of 50,000 participants in ACRES overall. The intake into the scheme will be phased, with at least two tranches, to spread the workload on advisors and enable them to allocate sufficient time for the preparation of applications, and the completion of the FSP and selection of appropriate actions.
