Written answers
Tuesday, 3 October 2023
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Agriculture Schemes
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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467. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider an extension to the grazing season under the ACRES scheme on geese and swan lands and breeding wader lands for one month to 1 November 2023 due to the dramatic impact of summer flooding in the Shannon and Suck Callows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42169/23]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is an agri-environment climate measure under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027. ACRES is designed to deliver significant long term environmental improvement through the participation of a significant number of farmers on the most appropriate land. The Government has committed €1.5 billion to ACRES over its duration.
As many of our wintering waterbirds start utilising inland sites from October onwards, such lands would not be compatible with an extension of grazing beyond this time.
Based on this, I can confirm that there will not be an extension granted in relation to extending the grazing season into October under the ACRES scheme for geese and swan lands or breeding wader lands.
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