Dr. Josephine Brennan:

I thank the Deputy for the questions on ACRES, which is voluntary. It is the flagship agri-environmental scheme and the Government has committed €1.5 billion towards it. There has been an allocation to bring 30,000 farmers into tranche 1. The scheme was designed to bring in participants on a phased basis. Tranche 1 has just closed. Tranche 2 will open next year on a similar timeline to tranche 1. There is therefore scope for farmers who did not get in this time to get in the next time. The number of people we take in on tranche 1 is a policy decision and the Minister and the Department are aware that there may be participants who will not get in this time but there is scope for them next time.