Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The BurrenLife scheme is one of the great examples of what we can do, from an environmental perspective. It was a pilot scheme with a small number of farmers and the payments were more significant. We are broadening out ACRES and bringing more people into the scheme. The vast majority of applicants who will be participating in ACRES in the Burren will be better off. There is a small number who were part of the initial pilot scheme whose payments will not be as high, which is something my officials are assessing to see if an accommodation can be made. Overall, we are building on the Burren scheme, making sure the benefits are spread and widened and also making sure even more farmers are able to avail of it and be better paid. There is a small issue with a small minority of farmers, which we are considering and reflecting on.

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