Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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35. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase the ewe premiums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11781/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Both I and the Government are fully committed to maintaining a viable sheep sector as an integral element of a balanced regional economy. Sheep farmers are hugely committed to producing a world-class, safe and sustainable product and the Government recognises that.

Market prices are a commercial matter between suppliers and buyers and the Government has no role in determining commodity prices in the sheep sector. I do recognise the pressure that sheep farmers have been under as a result of the downturn in the markets over the past number of months.

My Department provides significant support to the sector under the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), both through a new targeted scheme for sheep farmers - the Sheep Improvement Scheme - and through the broad range of schemes in the CSP.

The new Sheep Improvement Scheme has over 19,000 applications submitted. The scheme replaces the previous Sheep Welfare Scheme but shares the same aim of improving animal health and welfare in the sector, with a 20% increase in the ewe payment rate - from €10 to €12 - compared to the previous scheme.

The CSP provides almost €10 billion in supports over the period to 2027 for farm families. Sheep farmers are eligible for several other schemes in addition to Sheep Improvement Scheme, including the ACRES and Organics schemes, which are particularly suited to sheep enterprises or mixed beef and sheep enterprises.

I have secured places for all 46,000 farmers in ACRES which I know will benefit to many sheep farmers.

Furthermore, support for early-stage producer organisations, which will be introduced later this year, will strengthen the position of sheep farmers in the supply chain.

At my request, the Food Vision Sheep Group met recently to discuss the sheep market situation. All the main stakeholders are represented on the Group and were invited to make submissions. I will carefully consider the Chair’s report on the outcome of the Group's deliberations and we continue to monitor the market situation in the sector.

While market returns have reduced from the record prices of recent years due to increased input costs, Teagasc forecasts suggest that 2023 family farm income for specialised sheep farms will be 2% down on 2022 at €19,500, due to the important role which direct payments play in contributing to sheep farm incomes.

However, I have now asked officials in my Department to examine what potential supports, if any, could be put in place to support our sheep farmers in light of the recent challenges. Budgets for 2023 have been set and are locked in place so any changes to this will require scoping out as well as diverting funds from previously agreed areas.

We have a sheep sector that is the envy of the world with our sheep farmers at the core of everything we do. I want to ensure there is a long-term and sustainable future for the sector.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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36. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details regarding the number of farmers being accommodated under ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11918/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES, is the central agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027.

It is a flagship agri-environmental scheme that will pay farmers €1.5bn over the lifetime of the scheme ACRES will play a huge role in terms of driving environmental improvements while also providing a crucial income support to farm families. ACRES is the largest amount ever committed to an agri-environment scheme.

As Deputy may be aware, over 46,000 farmers applied for entry into Tranche 1 of ACRES. I am pleased to advise that all valid applications submitted for Tranche 1 will be accepted into the Scheme, and that farmers will be receiving their formal notifications this week.

As I mentioned, when announcing the decision last week, this high level of applications clearly shows how engaged and ambitious our farm families are for embracing the climate and biodiversity challenge. ACRES has proven to be a strong and farmer-friendly scheme which has caught the imagination of the farming public.

The approval letters will be followed in due course by an approval summary, which will show where actions have been mapped on the participant’s farm. My Department will also be sending a copy of the Farmland Plant Identification Guide, a booklet developed by my Department to help farmers in the scoring process, to each farmer with the approval summary.

As the number accepted into the Scheme in 2023 is greater than that initially planned, the timely and effective operation of the Scheme will require intensive and focused effort from all concerned, including my Department, advisors, Co-operation Project Teams and farmers. Farmers should, upon receipt of their approval letters, contact their ACRES Advisor to update them about the outcome of their application to facilitate planning and work arising.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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37. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if land used for solar farms can also be used for single-farm payment drawdown or forestry payment drawdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11723/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the EU CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), the Eligible Hectare is the basis of payment for area-based schemes such as the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS).

Within the CSP an eligible hectare is an agricultural area that is used for an agricultural activity or, where the area is also used for a non-agricultural activity, is predominantly used for such activities.

An area is predominantly used for agricultural activity if that activity can be exercised without being significantly hampered by the intensity, nature, duration and timing of the non-agricultural activity. On this basis it is the view of my Department that the areas beneath the solar panels would normally be considered ineligible and therefore deductions must be made for these areas, along with any infrastructure constructed to support the solar farm, such as access roads.

However, where a farmer is considering the installation of solar panels they should contact either their FAS approved agricultural advisor, or my Department to discuss the specifics of their situation, with details of the lands in question because the particular construction and operation of the solar farm may have an impact on the eligibility status of the lands.

In all cases, land parcels containing solar panels will only be considered eligible where an agricultural activity takes place (e.g. topping of grass) and the solar panels must not hamper the undertaking of that agricultural activity.

It is also worth noting that all the agricultural land used to claim BISS must be either owned, leased or rented by the applicant and must be used and managed by the applicant.

In terms of forestry, there may be some parts of the wider area around a solar farm that could be deemed eligible for support under the afforestation scheme. However, the integration of forestry with solar farms is highly unlikely due to growing trees blocking out the light. The trees would also pose a risk to the solar farm infrastructure as the trees get taller due to leaf fall, falling branches and the risk of trees themselves blowing over.