Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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765. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a time extension for the submission of applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53269/22]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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773. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to extend the deadline for submissions of applications to the agri-climate rural environment scheme given the shortage of agri-consultants and lack of resources in Teagasc to assist in the preparation of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53473/22]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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798. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his response to calls by an organisation (details supplied) to extend the application time for the agri-climate rural environment scheme to enable as many farmers as possible to apply. [53581/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 765, 773 and 798 together.

The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is the agri-environment climate measure which forms part of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027.

ACRES is a well-funded and farmer-friendly scheme which I am excited to see roll out. It will be an important income support for our farm families while also helping to drive tangible environmental improvements.

Farmers may apply for one of the approaches available under ACRES, namely the ACRES Co-operation approach, available to farmers in eight defined high priority geographical areas, or the ACRES General approach which is available nationally outside of the eight ACRES Co-operation zones.

Farmers must engage the services of an approved ACRES advisor to prepare and submit the application. This includes the preparation of a Farm Sustainability Plan (FSP) which forms the bulk of the application.

There are currently just under 700 advisors approved for ACRES. While the ACRES application system opened on 17th October 2022, to support the preparation of applications, significant resources were made available in advance of this date.

Prior to opening my Department engaged extensively with advisors. This included the provision of training, both in-person and by webinar, the publication of draft specifications in August and the opening of the Department’s Generic Land Management (GLAM) system in mid August for training, information and map printing. All of these steps enabled advisors undertake preparatory work on the development of FSPs and applications in advance of the opening.

Support material has also been provided to advisors including system instruction manuals and guides, and video tutorials on the steps to be taken in preparing and submitting the application.

The intake into the scheme is also phased, with at least two tranches, to spread the workload of advisors.

The closing date for the submission of applications under the current Tranche is 23.59 pm on Monday 21^stNovember 2022. The supports and information provided in advance of scheme opening will assist advisors to meet this deadline.