Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1210. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the next tranche of ACRES will open, and for how long; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56832/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The second tranche of my Department’s agri-environment scheme, ACRES, opened for the submission of applications on 24^thNovember 2023, and closed on 13^thDecember, 2023. Over 9,200 applications for this tranche were received. The bulk of Tranche 2 applications have been submitted under the ACRES General stream, with thirty percent of applicants applying under ACRES Co-operation.

Tranche 2 applications will be reviewed by my officials in the coming weeks to ensure that they comply with eligibility criteria. Subject to eligibility checks there will be in the region of 4,000 approvals issued over the coming months.

This will bring the total number of farmers supported under ACRES to the 50,000 maximum as outlined in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan.

For Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) the application window will open on an annual basis during the lifetime of the Scheme, along with applications for Landscape Actions (LAs). I will be publicising the opening dates for each in due course.