Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will first deal with the ash dieback. I take the valid point the Chairman is making and it is a matter that the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, and I have discussed and we are reflecting on it. It has been devastating for the farmers affected. As the Chairman will know, a scheme was introduced in March 2013. To date, the uptake has been low. Earlier this year, €7 million was paid out under the scheme in respect of approximately 1,000 ha. In April 2018 the Department suspended that reconstitution scheme and announced a review of it. A new scheme was opened on 22 June 2020. We have had limited uptake on that so far with 268 applications received and 19 approvals issued to date. The Chairman makes his points well and we are reflecting on the matter.

The Chairman's point about the agri-environmental schemes and afforestation is fair. It is important for us to look at that in the context of putting together these new schemes for 2023 to 2027. It is important both for afforestation and for organic farming that we do not have inbuilt unintentional disincentives making it harder to achieve our objectives. The thinking must be cross-sectional and the objectives must support each other. That is something we are aware of and I take the Chairman's point. We will be keeping it closely in mind.

I have proposed that the ceiling for the new TAMS be increased to €90,000. I have launched an updated cost review. I take the Chairman's point. Many people feel that ceiling should be larger. As it currently stands, I have plans to increase that to €90,000 and the costings will be updated when that is completed.

The €1 million for ANC is to ensure we provide enough funding in the funding envelope to be able to cover ANC. Every year up to 5,000 potential applicants do not meet the stocking requirements. We allocate enough for what we believe will meet all applications. However, that €1 million saving reflects the fact that not as many people met the stocking requirement as we had provided for. We were cautious in seeking to slightly overprovide to ensure we would definitely have enough funding to do it.