Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to discuss Department’s Statement of Strategy 2023-2026 and TAMS/ACRES Schemes

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine will meet this evening for separate engagements with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The meeting at 5:30pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be split into two sessions:

• 30pm - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Statement of Strategy 2023-2026;
• 7pm - TAMS and ACRES Schemes.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Jackie Cahill said: "The agriculture, food and marine sectors are critical to the economy and fabric of life across rural and coastal Ireland, creating and sustaining more than 173,000 jobs, and generating over €18 billion in exports. The Department's Statement of Strategy for period up to 2026 sets out five strategic goals to protect, promote and grow Ireland's agrifood and seafood sectors. The Committee looks forward to discussing this strategy and related matters with the Department officials.

"In our second session, the Committee will discuss TAMS (Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme) and ACRES (Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme) for updating and improving farms in line with Ireland's climate commitments. Both funding schemes have proven attractive to farmers with more than 21,000 applications received for TAMS and over 55,000 for ACRES. However, the rollout of both schemes has proved complex and challenging, with farmers reporting delays in completing applications and receiving funding."

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.