Written answers

Monday, 9 September 2024

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Schemes

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1278.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications received from each of the three Aran Island, Árann, Inis Meáin and Inis Oirr, under Tranche 2 of ACTES; the number of these who have withdrawn their applications to date ; the number of remaining participants in the scheme on each island; whether he is concerned at the high attrition rate of applications due to the unsuitability of the scheme in this extremely high nature value area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35209/24]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The following table represents the total number of ACRES Tranche 2 applications submitted, withdrawn and currently active per island as of 28th August 2024:

- Submitted Withdrawn Active
Inis Oírr 35 23 12
Inis Meáin 24 6 18
Inis Mor 46 21 25

As participation in an agri-environment scheme is a five-year commitment, a certain level of withdrawals can be expected. As ACRES is a voluntary scheme, farmers are not obliged to provide a reason to explain their decision to withdraw. Based on the experience of previous schemes, a farmer's decision to withdraw is often due to a change in circumstances between the time the application was submitted and its approval. The decision to withdraw is also influenced by other options becoming available to the farmer, such as participation in other schemes and alternative land use options. Many withdrawals are also the result of retirement and illness. No evidence has been provided by farmers who have withdrawn from ACRES in the islands listed that their decision was based on the unsuitability of the scheme to the areas farmed.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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1279.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2023 sheep welfare scheme payment will issue to a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35332/24]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Sheep Improvement Scheme is funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan. It provides support to sheep farmers for carrying out actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector. It builds on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS), which has now come to an end.

The scheme opened for applications in November 2022 and closed on 9th January 2023. During this period, there was extensive coverage of the scheme in the farming press and my Department sent SMS messages to participants in the Sheep Welfare Scheme that were registered for Department text messages informing them that the scheme was open for applications.

There is no record of an application from the person concerned to join the scheme within this timeline.

Correspondence has issued to the Herdowner regarding this and also advising that if they have grounds for a force majeure case or exceptional circumstances as to why they didn't make an application when the scheme was open, the applicant should contact, in writing, the Sheep Schemes Section of my Department and include any supporting documentation that is relevant to their case.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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1280.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2023 sheep welfare scheme payment will issue to a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35333/24]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Sheep Improvement Scheme is funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan. It provides support to sheep farmers for carrying out actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector. It builds on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS), which has now come to an end.

The scheme opened for applications in November 2022 and closed on 9th January 2023. During this period, there was extensive coverage of the scheme in the farming press and my Department sent SMS messages to participants in the Sheep Welfare Scheme that were registered for Department text messages informing them that the scheme was open for applications.

There is no record of an application from the person concerned to join the scheme within this timeline.

Correspondence has issued to the Herdowner regarding this and also advising that if they have grounds for a force majeure case or exceptional circumstances as to why they didn't make an application when the scheme was open, the applicant should contact, in writing, the Sheep Schemes Section of my Department and include any supporting documentation that is relevant to their case.

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1281.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to identify all schemes delivered by his Department that experienced payment delays in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35334/24]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department administers a wide range of schemes which provide vital support to underpin the continued sustainability and growth of the agri-food sector. I am very much aware of the importance of these supports for farmers, and accordingly, the issuing of payments under these schemes is a matter of priority for my Department.

The list of Schemes that experienced payment delays in 2023 and to date in 2024 are outlined in the table below:

Year 2023/2024 Scheme Details
2023 The Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC)
2023 Direct Payments – Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS).
2023/2024 Income Supplement Scheme
2023/2024 Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES)
2024 Producer Organisation Scheme for Fruit and Vegetables

Significant changes were made to the ANC stocking rate requirement in 2023, benefitting farmers. Advance payments under the ANC scheme commenced on 17 October, instead of the previous mid-September payment date. The changes to the planned payment dates in 2023 were communicated to farmers in March and again in September 2023.

In relation to BISS, 2023 was the first year of the new CAP Strategic Plan and a significant number of new schemes were introduced, along with substantial changes to existing schemes, over a relatively short time period. In 2023, the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) was replaced by BISS. There were substantial changes to the BISS compared to the BPS, including very positive changes to land eligibility and a new active farmer check. Advance payments for BISS commenced on 24th October 2023, one week later than previous years.

With regard to the Income Support Scheme, as a result of changes to the compensation schemes agreed as part of the Financial Working Group of the TB Forum in 2023, significant work on IT systems was required to incorporate these complex changes.

Changes to both the Depopulation Grant and Hardship Grant schemes were incorporated in December 2023, while the agreed changes to the Income Supplement scheme for herds entering breakdown went live in February 2024.

My Department is currently working on the necessary IT to ensure any balancing payments owed to farmers are calculated and issued as soon as possible.

ACRES is Ireland’s agri-environment climate scheme under Ireland’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan. At €1.5 billion, ACRES has the highest level of funding available of any environmental scheme ever run by my Department.

I fully acknowledge the delays that have been experienced in the processing of payments for farmers who joined ACRES in Tranche 1. The Scheme, with its scale, ambition and complexity, has presented challenges in terms of meeting the payment timelines envisaged at the time of its launch.

ACRES is unprecedented in the scale of its ambition, and it has enormous potential to deliver significant long-term dividends for farmers and for the environment. I ensured that all applicants were accepted into both tranches, which has resulted in almost 55,000 farmers now participating in the scheme. To date, the total amount paid, in respect of participation in ACRES is €241 million.

All in my Department are determined to ensure that the challenges experienced with administering year one of the scheme are resolved for year two.

I look forward to the remaining year one balancing payments being significantly resolved this month, and to both Tranche 1 and 2 payments proceeding according to committed timelines for 2024.

With regard to the Producer Organisation Scheme for Fruit and Vegetables, the interim aid claim of one of organisation, under the Vegetable Producer Organisation scheme, was late in 2024.

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