Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The persons named were approved into Tranche 1 of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) General Stream, with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2023.

Following the commencement of advance payments to ACRES General participants last December, work has continued on the processing of further ACRES General advance payments, and on the preparation of payments to ACRES Co-operation participants. Every effort continues to be made to ensure that all of these payments can be issued as quickly as possible.

The work to facilitate payment for partnership claims is ongoing and is a priority, but is likely to take a further period to complete. In these circumstances, it has been decided to make an interim, nationally-funded, payment to farmers affected across ACRES General and Co-operation. The rate of this interim payment will be €4,000 for those in ACRES General and €5,000 for those in ACRES Co-operation Project. I can also confirm that the interim payment will be made to farm partnerships who have not yet received their 2023 ACRES advance. It is anticipated that this payment will issue by the end of this month.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that on 9^thFebruary I announced an interim payment that will be paid to some 25,500 ACRES participants who have not yet received their advance payment. This will include those applicants who have a partnership arrangement.

Last Wednesday 14^thFebruary I announced the interim payment will be €4,000 to participants in ACRES General and €5,000 to those in the Co-operation Project (CP) stream, with the intention to have this interim payment delivered to those farmers affected across ACRES General and Co-operation by the end of this month.

My officials are currently finalising the details on those yet to be paid, which will include any partnerships that have not yet received a payment.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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452. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify if a person (details supplied) can qualify for the Shannon callows scheme. [7569/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, following exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during summer 2023, on 7 November 2023, I announced the launch of the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to support farmers who have lost fodder due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. I have allocated funding of approximately €800,000 which will allow for a payment rate of up to €325 per hectare. This is for LPIS parcels in the Shannon Callows Special Area of Conservation (SAC) impacted as determined by my Department's Earth Observation team, utilising the Area Monitoring System, and which were claimed by farmers on their 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application.

My officials have examined the relevant records and have confirmed that no BISS 2023 application was submitted, nor were any parcels identified as being in the Shannon Callow SAC area for the herdowner concerned, and, as such, they did not receive an application form from the Department for the scheme.

The procedure for seeking an internal review is available online in the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme Terms and Conditions under section 9 at gov.ie - Shannon Callows Flood Scheme 2023 (www.gov.ie).

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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453. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expected date on which farmers awaiting payment under the ACRES co-operation scheme will be paid, in view that previously confirmed payments due to commence in February 2024 have now been changed to interim payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7574/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that, on 9^thFebruary, I announced that an interim payment will be paid to some 25,500 ACRES Tranche 1 participants who have not yet received their advance payment.

Subsequently, on 14th February, I announced that the rate of the interim payment will be €4,000 to participants in ACRES General and €5,000 to those in the Co-operation Project (CP) stream, with the intention to have this interim payment delivered to those farmers affected across ACRES General and Co-operation by the end of this month.

The ACRES payments will take into account the interim payments already made to the relevant participants, and will issue in June. In the intervening period, my officials will continue with the payment process as a key priority.