Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy again for raising the matter. I have been pleased with the reaction to the ACRES scheme. It has been well received by farmers across the country. It was a key commitment from the two Ministers of State, Senator Hackett and Deputy Heydon and myself, representing three different parties, when we negotiated the programme for Government and went into government, to put a strong environmental scheme in place that would back family farms, provide income from them and enable and empower them to do significant work on ecosystem services and environmental goods. The farmers have responded strongly. I recognise again the massive work the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, will be well aware of that her team in the Department have done to get to this stage as well as the massive work that has gone on in farmyards and in advisory offices throughout the country over the past couple of months. We will certainly reflect now that the scheme is closed as to how we will step it forward and to continue to do the best job we can with it.

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