Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Natura lands (SAC and SPA) are incredibly diverse and important agricultural lands within the State. A number of supports are already in place within specific Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) schemes for these lands.

Specifically in ACRES CP, farmers will receive payment according to the score i.e. quality of their designated land and this is supported by a suite of non-productive investments which can be targeted to try and improve the quality of habitats.

In the case of ACRES general; if an applicant has at least 0.5 ha of grassland within the Natura (SAC/SPA) mapped area in 2021, he/she may be eligible for Tier 1 priority entry to the ACRES General approach. To be considered for priority access, one of the actions a. or b. below must be selected on an area intersecting the Natura mapped area.

A. Low Input Grassland

B. Extensively Grazed Pasture

Alternatively if an applicant has at least 0.5 ha of tillage land within Natura (SAC/SPA) mapped area in 2021, he/she may be eligible for Tier 1 priority entry to the ACRES General approach. To be considered for priority access, one of the actions a. b. or c. below must be selected on an area intersecting the Natura mapped area.

A.Unharvested cereal headlands

B.Winter bird food

C.Environmental management of arable fallow

The CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) is currently coming to the end of its first year of implementation and this sets out the focus of the main funding streams for the next number of years.

Outside of the supports outlined above under ACRES there are no plans to introduce any specific payments for Natura lands.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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934. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48096/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that the statutory agriculture appeals facility operates independently of my Department.

I have been informed that the Agriculture Appeals Office received an appeal from the person named on 11^thAugust 2023. I am also informed the Agriculture Appeals Office requested the Department’s statement on the grounds of appeal and the related documents and received same on the 14^thSeptember 2023. The appeal has now been assigned to an Appeals Officer. I understand the Appeals Officer has been in contact with the farmer and will ensure arrangements are put in place for the oral hearing that is requested as soon as possible.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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935. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the outstanding payments under the beef genomics scheme for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48143/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) provided financial support to farmers for using technology and genomics to improve the national herd. Farmers had to meet standards on genotyped animals.

The person named was a participant in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme from 2015 – 2022. They received their 2022 payment on 04 October 2023. They received a payment for every year they were a participant in the scheme. No more payments are due to the person named in respect of BDGP.