Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2022
128. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the maximum number of applicants who will be accepted into the agri-climate rural environment scheme; the closing date for the scheme; the circumstances under which it is intended to reopen the scheme for further applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53169/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is the agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027.
It is the successor to the Green Low Carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) which was available under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. It is a voluntary scheme whereby farmers, when approved into the Scheme, undertake certain actions on their land for at least five years. It is the largest agri-environment scheme ever run by my Department, as well as the best funded with a budget of €1.5 billion.
There are two approaches available to farmers under ACRES, namely the ACRES General approach, or the ACRES Co-operation approach depending on the location of their holding. The Government has committed €1.5 billion to ACRES over its duration, which will facilitate the participation of 50,000 participants in ACRES overall.
It is currently envisaged that the split will be 30,000 participants in ACRES General and 20,000 participants in ACRES Co-operation. This will, however, be subject to the level of interest in each approach.
While the overall number is similar to the number in GLAS, the higher maximum level of payment should be noted. There is a maximum annual payment of up to €7,311 to a participant in ACRES General while a participant in the ACRES Co-operation approach may receive up to €10,500 in a given year.
The intake into the scheme will be phased, with at least two tranches. This will help to spread the workload on advisors and enable them to allocate sufficient time for the preparation of applications, the completion of the Farm Sustainability Plans and selection of appropriate actions.
The system opened on Monday 17th October 2022 for the submission of applications under Tranche 1 of the Scheme. Prior to this the system had been open since mid-August for advisors to start preparing their draft plans. The closing date for such applications is Monday 21st November 2022. The contracts for those approved into the Scheme will commence on 1st January 2023.
