Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to organise a debate on the changes proposed under the 2023 Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, programme. For some years now, the Burren region of County Clare has been a specially designated zone under the Burren programme, which was developed by Dr. Brendan Dunford. It is about the appropriate management of the grassland that makes up the Burren, done in a sympathetic way with nature, working with the farmers in the region to ensure the environment is not just protected but enhanced and allowed to develop in an appropriate way.

I understand the plans for the new agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, as opposed to the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, and rural environment protection schemes, REPS, that went before, will have a significant impact on farmers on the designated zone of the Burren. The plan is to widen the designation to include many other areas, including in south Galway, the islands and a wider part of County Clare. While this is to be welcomed, unfortunately the devil is in the detail. It now seems that those who have done an immense amount of work in a sympathetic way to protect and preserve the fauna and flora of the region are going to be at a disadvantage. It now looks like the average payments made in the past will become the maximum payments. That is perhaps good for those in the wider region who will see an increased benefit. However, those in the core area of the Burren will take a significant hit or cut in payments.That is not fair or appropriate. People developed a coherent programme from the very start that was science-based and science-led and has worked tremendously well. It was a pilot project that is now recognised across Europe. A number of years ago, along with the then Commissioner for Agriculture and other experts across Europe, I went to see how farmers could play an important role in protecting and preserving the unique characteristics of areas such as the Burren. I would like a debate on the ACRES programme so that we can tease out in detail how we might be able to re-engineer things so they meet the needs and expectations of farmers. If farmers are not properly remunerated under this programme, the incentives to protect and preserve the unique characteristics of the Burren will be lost. I appeal to the Leader for a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine at the earliest opportunity. It will give him an opportunity to discuss the matter. I am sure others have local interests. If the Leader could organise such a debate, it would be great.