Burren scheme ACRES payments
Deputy McNamara said farmers in designated areas were losing compensation when BurrenLife and similar schemes were replaced by ACRES. The Agriculture Minister said most Burren applicants would be better off, though a small group’s lower payments were being examined for possible accommodation.
I previously raised the plight of farmers who farm in designated areas and whose farming practices are, therefore, restricted. Previously, they were compensated for that through the BurrenLife scheme in the case of the Burren and the hen harrier project in the Slieve Aughty Mountains. That has been abolished. They were told to go through the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES. In theory, they get more money through ACRES. They can get a maximum of €10,000 and farmers not in designated areas get a maximum of €7,000. The difference is the €3,000 is a partial reimbursement of moneys already expended. The reality is they are worse off now than they were, under a Government which claims to take the environment seriously. It is a scheme designed by civil servants for civil servants, not for farmers or the environment but for ease of administration. The Tánaiste said the fact they were worse off was not good enough when I raised it with him when he was the Taoiseach. Nothing has changed since then. Will something change?
Comment on this
I met Deputy McNamara about this issue and his Oireachtas colleagues in County Clare, as well as a delegation from the county.
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I was not invited to that meeting.
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The BurrenLife scheme is one of the great examples of what we can do from an environmental perspective. It was a pilot scheme with a small number of farmers and the payments were more significant. We are broadening out ACRES and bringing more people into the scheme. The vast majority of applicants who will be participating in ACRES in the Burren will be better off. There is a small number who were part of the initial pilot scheme whose payments will not be as high, which is something my officials are assessing to see if an accommodation can be made. Overall, we are building on the Burren scheme, making sure the benefits are spread and widened and also making sure even more farmers are able to avail of it and be better paid. There is a small issue with a small minority of farmers, which we are considering and reflecting on.
Comment on this
When will it go beyond consideration?