Public Consultation on the Natura Impact Report in support of the Appropriate Assessment (AA) for Certain Non-productive Investments (NPI) to be made available under the Agri-climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) Co-operation Project (CP)

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This public consultation notice is published on 17 November 2023.

ACRES, the Agri-climate Rural Environment Scheme, is Ireland’s flagship agri-environment scheme funded under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023 – 2027. The Scheme is divided in two streams, General and Co-operation Project (CP). This public consultation relates to the Non-Productive Investments within the ACRES CP stream. More information on ACRES may be found here gov.ie - Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) (www.gov.ie) .

Non-productive Investments (NPIs) are certain actions that may be chosen and carried out on holdings by participants of the ACRES CP stream only. NPIs are targeted towards protection or remediation of threats and pressures as well as future protection or enhancement of biodiversity, water quality or other environmental aspects. Correspondingly, NPIs are used to increase the results-based field score. A list of NPIs and the specifications can be found at gov.ie - Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) (www.gov.ie) .

The underlying principle of actions chosen under ACRES is the “right measure in the right place”. Local Action Plans (LAPs) for each of the eight ACRES CP Zones has been prepared* which defines the ecological objectives of each CP zone and which will inform the appropriate NPIs suitable for different target areas. The LAPs have been made available for context as part of this public consultation. The LAPs are “living documents”, which will underpin ACRES CP over its lifetime. Thus, these documents must not be read as final, as they will develop as ACRES progresses.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is required to inform that public that any person may make a submission or observation in writing concerning this Appropriate Assessment (AA) within 30 days of the date of the notice – the closing date is Monday, 18 December 2023.

The submission or observation may be on the likely effect on the environment of the proposals contained in the AA. The submission must include a name or names, postal address and phone number or email.

Submissions must be received by 16.00 hours (4pm) on the closing date. Submissions will be considered valid if received by post or delivered to the address below on the closing date or if received by email, if the timestamp of the email is sent before 16.00 hours on the closing date. It is important that submissions are emailed to the correct address, as indicated below. Submissions sent to other email addresses cannot be accepted as valid.

Valid submissions will be acknowledged after the closing date. If you feel you have made a valid submission and have not received an acknowledgement within five working days of the closing date, please contact below.

Five LAPs are published, one each for the Burren/Aran Islands, Donegal, and Kerry West Cork CP Zones; one covering the two West Connacht CP Zones north and south; one for the three remaining CP Zones Breifne, Leinster and Munster South Connacht.

Enquiries and/or submissions on this AA must be addressed to: