Natasha Newsome Drennan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming in. ACRES obviously is a massive issue but as with any new scheme, issues come with it on the Department's end and on farmers' end. Is it not a stage where the Department knows a scheme is coming in and there will be IT and administrative issues? It really would be better to hold off longer. The Department knows a scheme is going to be up in 2027 and the paperwork needs to be done beforehand. This is about going forward; it is not a question.

With ACRES, there is a shortfall in the money allocated for 2025 of €74.6 million. Where is the money going to come for that when 300,000 ha supposedly are to be added to the scheme? The Department needs more, not less. Where is that money going to come from? Are we going to see more issues around that?