John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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384. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the intention within his Department to review the criteria of the ACRES scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50599/26]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES, is the current agri-climate environment measure provided under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan (CSP).

As the Scheme was approved as part of the CSP, is fully subscribed with contracts currently in place, and participants fulfilling their commitments under those contracts, it is not appropriate to review the criteria of the Scheme.

It is currently proposed, in the draft regulations for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post 2027, that Member States must support certain environmental and climate priority areas. Insights and experiences gained from the implementation of ACRES since its commencement in 2023 will help to inform the design of future agri-environment climate actions, with the criteria for the next agri-environment scheme considered in that context.