Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 March 2025
392. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the leadership practices inventory actions for the co-operation areas under ACRES will be finalised; and the reason for the three year delay. [13212/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy is referring to the Landscape Action element of the Co-operation approach of the ACRES Scheme. ACRES has been implemented on a phased basis in view of the high level of participation and the range of opportunities available under the Scheme, all of which required the development of new and extensive IT functionality.
Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) and Landscape Actions (LAs) are important elements of the ACRES scheme. They aim to provide Co-operation participants with the opportunity to implement these complementary environmental actions as a mechanism for farmers to enhance the ecological status of their lands, thereby increasing their scores and their potential ACRES payment.
There have already been two application windows for NPIs, with decision letters for the 2023 NPI application window being issued in December 2024. Screening of the 2024 applications is ongoing.
Regarding Landscape Actions, a provisional list of these actions was published on my Department’s website in October 2024. The drafting of specifications and costing of the actions is at an advanced stage. It will also be necessary to undertake an Appropriate Assessment as required under environmental legislation, with rollout currently estimated to take place in Quarter 2 or Quarter 3 of 2025.
