Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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128. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have signed up to the ACRES scheme. [61058/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is the agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027. It is the successor to the Green Low Carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) which was available under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

ACRES is a voluntary scheme whereby farmers, when approved into the Scheme, will undertake certain actions on their land for at least five years.

The objectives of the scheme are:

- To contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, including by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration, as well as to promote sustainable energy

- Foster sustainable development and efficient management of natural resources such as water, soil and air, including by reducing chemical dependency,

- To contribute to halting and reversing biodiversity loss, enhance ecosystem services and preserve habitats and landscapes,

There are two approaches available to farmers under ACRES, namely the ACRES General approach and the ACRES Co-operation approach depending on the location of their holding. The Government has committed €1.5 billion to ACRES over its duration with the aim of facilitating the participation of 50,000 farmers. 

The intake into the scheme will be phased, with at least two tranches. This will help to spread the workload on advisors and enable them to allocate sufficient time for the preparation of applications, the completion of the Farm Sustainability Plans and selection of appropriate actions. 

Tranche 1 of ACRES opened for applications on Monday 17th October 2022. I am very pleased to say that the scheme is proving very popular with farmers. The scheme closed for applications at midnight on Wednesday 7th December. We look forward to working with farmers in the scheme over the next five years to deliver on this environmental ambition.