Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1203. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications to date in grant aid for cattle underpasses under the TAMS grants scheme; if he will review the technical criteria laid down by his Department in respect of applications submitted under this grant scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56770/23]

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

The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. There is an indicative budget of €370 million available for the period 2023-2027, and all investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare.

A total of 42 applications for underpasses were received under Tranche 1, with an additional 26 underpass applications received to date under Tranche 2, which closes on 19 January 2024.

The provision of an underpass involves the construction of a bridge under a public road. The requirements for the design and construction of an underpass follow the technical requirements of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), which is the Competent Authority for the development of structures in relation to public roads.

It is important that any structure that is grant-aided by my Department is designed and constructed in accordance with best practice laid down by the competent authority, which in this case is TII. It is imperative, therefore, that a Chartered Engineer designing an underpass complies with the full process as outlined by my Department.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1204. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive their eco scheme agri-payment. [56771/23]

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

The farmer named applied for Eco-Scheme Agricultural Practice 1 Space for Nature Enhanced. My officials are continuing to process outstanding Eco-Scheme applications including the person named to ensure all validations are undertaken before payments issue. Payment for the farmer named will be made shortly once final validation on the herd are complete and clear for payment.

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1206, 1205, 1207 and 1208 together.

In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) was launched in 2022 as the flagship environmental scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027, with a total budget of €1.5 billion.

The funding allocation for the ACRES scheme in 2023 was €160 million (in total, across both ACRES General and ACRES Co-operation streams).

While it was initially planned to take in up to 50,000 applicants over two Tranches, with 30,000 in Tranche 1, as a Government the decision was made to accept all valid applications submitted under Tranche 1. There are currently just under 46,000 farmers actively participating in the scheme. This decision to accept all valid applications for Tranche 1 put significant pressure on the ability to pay all participants in 2023.

ACRES General Payments commenced on December 15^th2023, with 17,145 farmers being paid a total of €76.5 million. This represents two thirds of all ACRES General participants. Due to the additional complexity associated with the Co-operation Project (CP) stream, payments for ACRES CP participants will begin to issue in February 2024..