Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
999. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the IT systems and algorithms used to compute, compile and process 2023 farm payments for ACRES, BISS and Eco scheme is fit for purpose; the reason his Department and FAS advisors are unable to finalise farm payments due to applicants within the timeframes promised by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12227/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe IT systems that my Department uses to support farm payments have undergone significant redevelopment in recent years to facilitate the multitude of new support schemes under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP).
To manage these new schemes, completely new systems were developed which had to cater for new requirements many of which involved dealing with features on farm that had never been mapped before. One such example was hedgerows under Space For Nature within the ECO scheme. My Department mapped all relevant features on farm to assist farmers and advisors. This was particularly important as it gave farmers the opportunity to get credit for the many ecologically important features that exist and which are maintained on farm.
There is no doubt the range of scheme has put pressure on not only Department IT systems, but also farmers, advisors and the staff of my own Department. The aim always is to maximise the number of farmers paid while still ensuring that the required regulatory checks are carried out.
As evidenced by the recent payments under ACRES my Department will continue to work on the relevant IT systems to ensure farm payments will issue in a timely manner and I am confident that 2024 will see improvements in terms of payments and overall system performance. As with new CAP changes the first year is the most difficult but as systems bed in and people become more familiar with requirements the level of payments made at advance and balancing time will increase in the coming years.
