Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

69. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider the expansion of the lime scheme and making it available for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46949/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In response to increased input costs arising from the war in Ukraine, I introduced the Liming Programme earlier this year.

This was a once-off measure to incentivise the use of ground limestone, commonly called lime, a natural soil conditioner which corrects soil acidity, make nutrients more available for plant uptake, and improves overall soil health. This in turn has a positive impact on the crop's response to applied nutrients, thereby reducing the need for chemical fertiliser.

Since the scheme closed for applications, I have made two interventions on the original terms securing more money and more time to maximise the number of participants paid and to give as much flexibility as possible.

A total of approximately 38,500 farmers were approved to participate in the Programme and I secured a doubling of the budget from €8m to €16m in order to meet this huge demand.

In relation to the timing of spreading, the Deputy may be aware that on the 6th of October I announced important flexibility regarding the deadline for the spreading of lime under the Programme.

While the deadline of the 31st of October 2023 remains in place for receipt of claims for payment, applicants have until the 31st of March 2024 to spread the approved quantity of lime.

The extension to the spreading deadline was granted in response to the very challenging weather conditions experienced during the summer and autumn of 2023 which have significantly impacted soil trafficability and hence many farmer's ability to spread lime.

As stated already, the National Liming Programme is supported as a once-off measure in response to the war in Ukraine. It is funded by the National Exchequer under the current year's budget.

Invoices/Receipts with proof of payment must be submitted by the 31st of October this year to allow administrative checks to be completed in order for my Department to make payments to all eligible farmers before the end of this year.

While I have considered the matter, unfortunately there is no funding available within Budget 2024 for this measure and therefore it will not be possible to continue the Programme in 2024.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The core payment for ACRES Co-operation Project participants is determined by results-based scoring. As I'm sure the Deputy can appreciate, in order to avoid double funding for actions on the same land, there is an additional payment for Organics farmers in ACRES, but at a reduced rate, once the baseline requirements for the Organic Farm Scheme are met.

I can assure you that Organic Farming Scheme farmers are not being discriminated against in ACRES. Rather, to reflect the importance of the Organic Farming Scheme and its contribution to environmental objectives, organic farmers get priority access through the tiered approach to the ACRES scheme, and/or through the ranking and selection process.

Staff in my Department work closely across divisions to try and optimise the ability to accumulate payments between schemes, while also ensuring there is no dual payment for the same action.

Additionally, within ACRES Cooperation Projects we have allowed for all applicants to avail of up to €52,500 over the five-year duration of the scheme, through core payments and non-productive investments.

So even in situations where an OFS farmer may receive what is perceived as a lower payment, they still have the opportunity to claim additional payments for non-productive investments such as additional hedge or tree planting. In addition, they are awarded for the high-quality status of their land.

More generally, I was delighted to announce that I have increased the allocation for ACRES by €40 million, bringing the total scheme allocation to €200 million for 2024. This is a substantial increase on the 2023 budget of €160 million.

The provision of this additional funding will allow delivery on the Government’s commitment to have 50,000 farmers participating in ACRES, our flagship environmental programme under Ireland’s 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

At the outset, it must be noted that CAP payments, including those made under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme, are governed by EU regulations and are subject to rigorous audit and control by the European Commission.

It is important that applicants meet all the eligibility requirements for the ANC Scheme and other area-based schemes they have applied to participate in in order to avoid reduced payments.

Where applicants do not meet scheme requirements, their payments may be reduced, and penalties applied. Penalties under the ANC scheme use the same basis for calculation as all other area based schemes including but not limited to the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) , Eco Scheme, Protein Aid scheme, Straw Incorporation Measure, Organic Farming Scheme and ACRES.

These reductions/penalties were reviewed as part of the new CAP and were reduced significantly. They are set out and agreed under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) which is in place until 2027.

Penalties can apply for under and over declaration of areas. It’s important to note that applicants are advised at the time of application of their digitised eligible area. Applicants may then choose to claim more or less than the advised digitised area. Where they claim more or less than the eligible area available to them, they are presented with a warning message during the application process.

These warnings and reminders are there to ensure the farmer is fully aware of the schemes he/she is or is not applying for and the area they are claiming.

The farmer can choose to accept these warnings but must do so by ticking a box during the application process.

The online application process has been streamlined over many years to ensure quick, efficient, and responsive processing and prompt payment to farmers. The application process is reviewed annually to make it is as clear and straight forward as possible. Every effort is made by the Department to improve the quality of applications with the aim of lowering administrative errors and allowing payments to issue in good time.