Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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537. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the announced low-emission slurry scheme under TAMS 3 will be available to contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22775/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The EU regulations (Article 17 of EU Regulation 1305/2013) that provide for the TAMS scheme under the RDP 2014 – 2020, specify that TAMS beneficiaries must be farmers or groups of farmers.

The regulatory transitional provisions for support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) in the years 2021 and 2022 do not alter this definition. These are also the legal basis for TAMS 3.

Therefore, the Department is precluded from funding the purchase of equipment by contractors under TAMS 3 unless they are also farmers. There are, however, a range of Government supports available for contractors in the saw way as other small businesses.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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538. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will allow flexibility around ACRES deadline, given recent difficult weather conditions and heavy rainfall have caused delays to sowing and fencing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22776/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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ACRES is the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme and is an agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. The Government has committed €1.5 billion to ACRES over its duration.

It has been confirmed that there will not be an extension granted in relation to any of the actions where fencing is required under ACRES. However, an extension has been granted for the sowing of Winter Bird Food crop due to adverse weather conditions. Circular 6/2023 advises that the deadline for planting has been extended to May 31st for 2023 only.

This circular and all other documentation is available on the ACRES section of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine website.