Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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51. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with farmers and farming organisations regarding their concerns about the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 3, which farmers believe is unduly penalising farmers using robotic milking; if it is the case that farmers who have previously invested in robotic milking parlour equipment are ineligible to apply for milking parlour support under the new TAMS 3; if this will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11461/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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78. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide clarification as to the reason farmers who have previously invested in robotic milking parlour equipment under TAMS 2 are now ineligible to apply for the support under the new TAMS 3, in view that it places these farmers at a significant disadvantage compared to their counterparts in herringbone systems who can avail of support under TAMS 3 for up to ten milking units in a herringbone milking parlour, taking into account the pressures on labour availability in the agriculture sector and the benefits of new technology on farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11238/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 78 together.

Through TAMS 3, I believe we have delivered a hugely exciting scheme that will deliver for farmers, for the entire agri-food sector and the wider rural economy over the next number of years. I have assigned €370m for TAMS between 2023 and 2027 with a strong focus on supporting this as well as subsequent generation of farmers.

There are, as the Deputy will be aware, exciting new developments for dairy farmers including higher grant aids of solar panels as well as a range of labour saving items.

TAMS 3 is a hugely exciting scheme with approximately 100 new investment items available to farm families compared to TAMS 2. There are now in the region of 300 investment items in TAMS 3.

On the dairy sector, the list of potential investments is larger than ever before. In addition to the investments being carried over from TAMS II there is a wide range of additional investments being introduced for farmers, including farm roadways, bovine fencing, health and fertility monitoring systems, automatic drafting systems, public road underpasses and milk recording systems.

When a farmer is planning to update their dairy system, investment in the milking machine is only a portion of the required investment. It is important that dairy farmers also invest in animal housing, slurry storage, fodder storage and making their holding more accessible. To this end the TAMS schemes are designed to encourage farmers to invest in these animal welfare and environmentally beneficial investments before investing in additional milking equipment. It is for this reason that there are limits on robotic milkers where farmers have previously benefitted from this under the TAMS scheme before.

Under our CAP strategic plan, we are obliged to provide for investments focused on green investments, which are environmental, animal welfare and biodiversity related investments. Additionally, Ireland’s SWOT Analysis and Needs Assessment for the CAP strategic plan identified the need to increase environmental efficiency in the agricultural sector through on farm investment and the adoption of new technologies; the need to support young farmers in accessing finance so they are in a better position to invest in and develop their farm enterprise; and the need to improve animal health and welfare, and farm safety on farms. Furthermore, this helps to ensure that TAMS 3 is better aligned with government priorities of delivering environmental public good outputs and is consistent with other policies that are trying to improve the sustainability of our dairy herd such as changes in Nitrates regulations.

Dairy farmers are also well catered for with additional separate investment ceiling for LESS at €40,000 and solar at €90,000 which are particular Government priorities to address ammonia emissions and renewable energy generation respectively. Additionally, it is important to recognise that young farmers also benefit from grant support at 60% rather than the standard 40%.

I have introduced some changes to TAMS under the TAMs 3 scheme to better align it with overall agriculture and environmental priorities.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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52. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications from Cavan-Monaghan that were accepted to the ACRES scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11746/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES as it is more generally known, is the central agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 and is the successor to the Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS). The Government has committed €1.5 billion to ACRES - the largest amount ever committed to an agri-environment scheme.

As the Deputy may be aware, Tranche 1 of the Scheme, which opened for applications last October, was significantly oversubscribed, with over 46,000 applications received for the 30,000 places allocated to be filled under Tranche 1. I was pleased to announce last week the acceptance of all valid applications received for Tranche 1 into the Scheme.

I note that, on foot of the decision to accept all valid applications, approval letters are issuing to over 2,300 successful applicants who hold Cavan/Monaghan Business IDs. I refer to Business IDs as this encompasses individual herd numbers, registered farm partnerships and companies registered with my Department.

Successful ACRES applicants are receiving their formal approval letters this week, followed by an approval summary by the end of March. The approval summary will show where actions have been mapped on the participant’s farm and will be accompanied by a copy of the Farmland Plant Identification Guide, a booklet produced by my Department to help farmers identify the indicator species on their land to be used in the scoring process.

ACRES has been designed to deliver significant long-term environmental improvement through the participation by a significant number of farmers on the most appropriate land, with each making a strong improvement on their farm. Farmers have shown, by the level of interest in Tranche 1 of ACRES, that they are ready and willing to play their part in delivering the maximum possible environmental benefit.

While it will be challenging, and it will require intensive and focused effort from all concerned - from my Department, from advisors, from Co-operation Project Teams and from farmers. I look forward to working with everyone to achieve that objective.