Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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674. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined [61967/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that on 15th June 2022, I announced the launch of the €56 million Fodder Support Scheme 2022, which aimed to incentivise farmers, in particular drystock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) for winter 2022. This is to ensure that Ireland does not have any animal welfare issue over this winter and next spring.

The online application system for the Fodder Support Scheme 2022 opened on 17th June 2022 and closed on 27th August 2022. The Department has examined the relevant records and has confirmed that no application was received from the Herd Number provided by the Deputy, The Herd Number provided appears to be incorrect. A Draft Application for the Fodder Support Scheme 2022 was created by the individual referred to under a similar herd number.

As part of the 2022 Fodder Support Scheme online application process, all applicants had to acknowledge that if they did not click the submit button at the end of the application, then they had not applied for the Scheme. All herd owners registered with the Department to receive text messages were contacted prior to the Scheme closing date to advise them where their application was still at "draft status" and that further action was necessary to apply for the Scheme.

The Fodder Support Scheme 2023, which was open to successful applicants of the 2022 Scheme, closed for applications on 5th December 2022.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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675. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm receipt of an application (details supplied) and to advise when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61997/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that there was an application submitted for the person named for the ACRES scheme. The scheme is over-subscribed with 46,000 applicants. I am delighted to see such a strong response to ACRES. This shows clearly how engaged and ambitious our farm families are for embracing the climate and biodiversity challenge.

ACRES has proven to be a strong and farmer-friendly scheme which has caught the imagination of the farming public. Regarding the large number of applications, I will examine all options open to me and seek to bring clarity to the situation shortly.