Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
604. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the provisions he is making, if any, for access to the acres scheme for new entrants to farming in 2023 and future years; if he will review the criteria for eligibility with regard to having submitted a BPS application in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54618/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra618. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to clarify the reasoning behind excluding new basic payment scheme applicants from the ACRES 2 scheme in 2023; the number of affected farmers; if a review of this decision is under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54921/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 618 together.
The Terms and Conditions for Tranche 2 of ACRES are published on my Department’s website.
One of the eligibility requirements for a farmer to participate is the submission of a Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application for 2022.
A further requirement is that all lands must also be declared in the applicant’s 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application (and declared on the applicant’s BISS application for all subsequent years of participation).
This is a standard requirement for agri-environment schemes, and there has been no change in this regard from Tranche 1, apart from the qualifying years.
