Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1900. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that the western-most tip of the Dingle Peninsula has been excluded from the new agri-environment and climate measure (details supplied); if the matter will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20184/22]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1920. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20720/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1900 and 1920 together.

Ireland's draft CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023 – 2027, which lists the range of interventions currently being proposed, was submitted to the EU Commission on 31st December 2021, with their observations thereon recently received. One of the interventions proposed in Ireland’s draft CSP is an agri-environment climate measure (AECM). €1.5 billion has been allocated to this flagship agri-environment scheme which will be the successor to the Green Low Carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) which was available under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

It is proposed that the exciting national agri-environmental climate measure will consist of two approaches, namely:

- An AECM General, available nationally (outside of the high priority geographical area as defined for the AECM Co-operation Project approach below), which offers a range of measures (both targeted and general); and

- An AECM Co-operation Project, available to farmers in defined high priority geographical areas. If a farmer in one of these areas volunteers to participate, they may undertake bespoke farm, landscape and catchment measures, as well as being able to undertake actions from the AECM General suite of actions. Farmers participating in this approach can avail of the assistance of a Local Cooperation Project (CP) Team, who will assist with the implementation of the scheme at local level.

With reference to the specific question, I reassure the Deputy that, as was the case in GLAS, all farmers, who apply for the Basic Payment Scheme, will have access to the new AECM. No area has been excluded.  The purpose of the map, which shows the western most tip of the Dingle Peninsula in white, was to give an indication of the defined high priority geographical areas that would fall within the AECM Co-operation Project approach.

That map, accessible at www.gov.ie/en/publication/76026-common-agricultural-policy-cap-post-2020/ , is colour-coded to show the eight areas in the country that have been identified as having particular environmental characteristics, where farmers may engage in the new AECM through the cooperation project teams.  Farmers in the rest of the country, shown in white on the map, may apply to participate in the AECM General, where they may choose from a range of environmental actions.