Longford County Council: Ross calls for greater access to ACRES scheme

Longford County Council will write to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, to lobby for more access to the ACRES Environmental scheme for applicant farmers.

Cllr Paul Ross (pictured) called on Longford County Council to correspond with Agriculture Minister McConalogue, to “ensure that all applicants of the second phase of the ACRES Environmental scheme are included in the scheme this year”.

Cllr Paul Ross said it is imperative that farmers who applied for the second tranche of the ACRES scheme be admitted to the scheme.

“The Acres scheme is an environmental based scheme to encourage farmers to protect watercourses and habitats and ensure biodiversity on their farm,” Cllr Ross explained, “In a time where we have a climate change emergency it's vital all farmers who wish to access the scheme are allowed to do so.”

The initial launch of the ACRES Environmental scheme saw the department make 30,000 places available, however interest in the scheme saw that number increase to 46,000 farmers.

Cllr Ross is concerned there will be a fall off in available places in the next phase of the scheme: “We are now in tranche two and the Minister has proposed that only 4,000 enter the scheme. Once again it's been oversubscribed with 9,200 applying.

“I want to see all farmers who apply to be allowed to enter this scheme. Most of these farmers have been participating in environmental schemes for the past 20 years.

Farmers are getting hammered by environmentalists for emissions from the sector, so it's vital that every farmer who wishes to join the scheme to improve the environment be allowed to enter the scheme”.