Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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151. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the basic income support for sustainability payment could be made earlier the year to facilitate farmers paying their contractors in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44494/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I know how crucial all payments are to our farm families and I am committed to delivering all payments associated with my Department as quickly as possible. However, advance payments for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability(BISS) cannot be made before October 16th in a given year. This is laid down in EU Regulations. The BISS is fully funded by the EU and is subject to strict legal and audit controls.

With 2023 being the first year of the new CAP Strategic Plan, a whole range of new schemes had to be introduced along with substantial changes to existing schemes over a relatively short time period. Farmers were given an extra two weeks to apply for BISS in May 2023 and BISS payments for 2023 are scheduled to commence on 24th October. My Department is committed to bringing BISS payment dates in future years back in line with the previous programme (closer to October 16th) once the technological and administrative challenges brought about by the new CAP programme have been fully addressed.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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152. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the ACRES scheme; when farmers will be updated regarding the amount they are due to be paid; when payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44501/23]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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156. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether each participant farmer has been given a detailed outline of the scoring scheme under the ACRES scheme by his Department; when farmers will be given their score for this year under the scheme; when the first payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44564/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 156 together.

The Agri-Climate, Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is my Department’s flagship agri-environment scheme under the new CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. The Scheme will support farmers in their efforts to tackle the challenges in climate, biodiversity, and water quality through it’s two streams- ACRES General and ACRES Co-operation (CP).

An overall payment of €52,500 is potentially available to ACRES CP participants over the five-year term of the scheme. €7,000 per annum is ring-fenced for results-based payments, which is the core payment, with the additional €17,500 set aside for Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) and/or Landscape Actions (LAs). ACRES General participants can avail of a maximum of €7,311 per annum, with these farmers also being able to select the Low Input Grassland (LIG) or Low-Input Peat Grassland (LPIG) result-based actions also, where applicable.

Earlier this year, the ACRES Co-operation Project (CP) Teams reviewed the maps for every ACRES CP approved participant, to determine the habitats found on each holding. Using the maps made available via my Department’s systems, fields were delineated on the maps, and one of ten scorecards, appropriate to the habitat, was applied. Those habitats mapped and delineated by the CP Teams were then scored over the summer and early autumn by participants’ approved ACRES Advisors, who received mandatory in-field training on scorecards. The score achieved will dictate the results-based payment rate for that participant, which is set out in the Scheme Terms and Conditions.

All participants in the Scheme undergo a suite of checks and validations, to ensure their continued eligibility for the Scheme and to receive payment. In order for applications to pass through these checks it is imperative that advisors, on behalf of their client farmers, submit any and all necessary material to my Department. It is intended that payments for those cases which have passed all validations will commence in late November and will continue to issue on an ongoing basis thereafter.