Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

504. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many farmers in County Donegal applied for the organic farming scheme under the current CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6451/24]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

505. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many applications from farmers in County Donegal have been successfully accepted on to the organic farming scheme under the current CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6452/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 504 and 505 together.

A total of 413 farmers are participating in the Organic Farming Scheme in Donegal under the new CAP Strategic Plan.

Five applications have been rejected as ineligible.

There are now 435 organic farmers (9% of scheme participants) in the Organic Farming Scheme in Donegal when those still participating in the organic Farming Scheme under the previous CAP are included.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

506. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many farmers in County Donegal applied for the agri-environment scheme, ACRES, under the current CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6453/24]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

507. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many applications from farmers in County Donegal have been successfully accepted on to the agri-environment scheme, ACRES, under the current CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6454/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 506 and 507 together.

As the deputy may be aware, in 2022, my Department opened applications for Tranche 1 of ACRES, and at the closing date, over 46,000 applications had been received. I would like to confirm that there were 4,955 applications from Donegal, of which, 4,855 were approved into the Scheme.

Applications for Tranche 2 closed last December 2023, with just under 9,200 applications having been received. Tranche 2 of the scheme will see in the region of 4,000 approvals issued, bringing the total number of farmers supported under ACRES to the 50,000 maximum as outlined in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan.

My officials are currently processing these applications for eligibility and further details will follow in due course.