Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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144. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends extending the closing date for lodging applications under the new agri-climate rural environment scheme in view of the volume of work involved in applying for the scheme and the inability of agricultural planners to deal with all their client's applications before the present closing date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53168/22]

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

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.

A farmer may only apply for one of the approaches, eligibility for which will be determined by the location of his/her holding.

Two of the requirements for the Scheme are the engagement of an approved ACRES advisor to prepare and submit the ACRES application on behalf of an applicant, and a Farm Sustainability Plan (FSP) to form part of each application.

The ACRES system was opened on 17th October 2022 for the submission of applications. A significant level of interest in applying for the scheme has been shown to date, with over 45,000 expressions of interest received.

In recognition of the work required, my Department engaged extensively with advisors in advance of the formal opening of the Scheme. Such engagement included the provision of in-person training in July and September and an update webinar just prior to opening of scheme. There are currently just under 700 advisors approved as ACRES advisors, so there is significant capacity available.

Draft specifications for ACRES General were published in August 2022, with access to the Department’s Generic Land Management (GLAM) system made available to advisors in advance of the formal opening of the Scheme to enable them to do preparatory work on the FSP. Other support material provided to advisors included a GLAM user manual, AgriSnap guide and video guides on both creating the FSP and submitting the application.

The intake into the scheme is also phased with at least two tranches.

The closing date for the submission of applications under the current Tranche is on Monday 21^stNovember 2022. I believe that the ability to undertake preparatory work will assist advisors to meet that deadline and I do not propose at this time to extend the closing date.

I am excited to see ACRES roll out as it will be an important income support for farm families while also driving important environmental improvements at farm level.