Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1550. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 718 of 6 December 2022, if he will clarify the reason some ACRES advisors, who had fulfilled all the criteria outlined in his response, are not allowed access to the ACRES GLAMS system; and the number of approved advisors that had no access to the ACRES GLAMS system and were, therefore, unable to prepare FSPs for their clients for over a month. [12761/23]

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.

There are currently just under 700 advisors approved for ACRES. To be become an approved ACRES advisor the following criteria must be met:

- Completion ACRES advisor registration of interest with the ACRES section,

- Be approved under the Department’s Farm Advisory System (FAS),

- Attend and complete mandatory ACRES training.

In early 2022, we engaged extensively with all registered FAS advisors outlining the requirements for registrations as an ACRES advisor. The obligation was on the advisor to respond by registering their interest with the ACRES section.

Further updates were provided to advisors throughout the application process. ACRES training was provided to advisors over three sessions in June and September 2022.

To support advisors in their application preparations the draft scheme specifications were published in August and the Department’s Generic Land Management (GLAM) system was opened in mid-August to give advisors an opportunity to familiarise themselves with both scheme requirements and online systems and for map printing. This enabled advisors to undertake preparatory work on the development of Farm Sustainability Plans and applications in advance of the opening.

A number of advisors who were unable to access the GLAM system had not completed all of the requirements at that time. The obligation was on the advisor to comply with both FAS and ACRES requirements before they could be considered eligible to submit ACRES applications.

The onus was also on the advisor to ensure that online links were put in place via the Department's Online Services functions so they could submit ACRES applications on behalf of clients. If all of the required conditions were not satisfied by advisors on time, this would have delayed their approval as ACRES advisors. Responses to technical queries from advisors were provided throughout the application process on a timely basis.

To facilitate the workload of advisors and to ensure receipt of the best quality applications possible, the Department extended the closing date for receipt of ACRES applications to Wednesday 7th December 2022. Tranche 1 is now closed for applications.

Advisors who were not in a position to submit applications on behalf of their clients for Tranche 1 will have an opportunity to proceed under Tranche 2. It is proposed that Tranche 2 will open for applications later this year with contracts in that Tranche to commence from 1st January 2024.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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1551. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of difficulties experienced by farmers applying for the fodder scheme who were informed online that their applications were submitted and were later told that the application had not been received (details supplied); the number of farmers that are affected by this problem; his plans to address such problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12839/23]

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 to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay). This was to ensure that Ireland had sufficient supplies of fodder heading into winter 2022/spring 2023. The online application system for the scheme closed on 27th August 2022.

In the case of the person named, a draft application was created on the system but not submitted. He was contacted by text message on the 28th of July 2022 to advise him that further action was necessary by him or his advisor to apply for the Scheme but there is no record of any further action being taken by him in terms of submitting an application for the 2022 Fodder Support Scheme.