merrion street

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D. today announced the commencement of the 2022 payments under the Results Based Environment Agri Pilot Project (REAP) scheme. Almost €12m will be paid to over 3,300 REAP farmers which represents 90% of all scheme participants.

The two-year REAP scheme was launched in early 2021 to trial an agri-environment results-based scoring and payment system on farms across the country. The project was introduced to test the upscaling potential of the results-based model for use in a national agri-environment scheme. 

In announcing REAP payments Minister McConalogue said,

“I am very happy to see the success of REAP and delighted to these payments issue to so many farmers. REAP is a farmer-friendly pilot scheme and we   explored how we can bring greater environmental and biodiversity value to how we farm. Using this new approach, the project has been a great success and has paved the way for the broadening of the results-based approach through ACRES.

“REAP enabled Irish farmers to modify their farming practices and to farm in a more sustainable manner and for their advisors to become more knowledgeable on results-based assessments. The commencement of the 2022 REAP payments will support farmers in their efforts to  continue Irish agriculture’s journey  to become even more sustainable and meet out ambitious climate objectives.

“I look forward to seeing the benefits of REAP continued through the upscaling of the model through ACRES.”

Achievements under the project include:

• the environmental assessment and scoring of almost 32,000 hectares using a combination of the Low Input Grassland and Multi Species Ley scorecards,
• the training of over 400 farm advisors and the training of REAP farmers in the results-based approach.
• In conjunction with their advisor, REAP participants undertook environmental improvement works to increase the environmental value of their land with the aim of improving their score in year two.

The roll-out of REAP also fulfilled the Government’s commitment to pilot an agri-environment project during the CAP transition period, supported by additional exchequer funding.

REAP paved the way for the introduction of results-based measures on a broader scale under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme. ACRES is the €1.5bn Government’s new flagship environmental scheme under the new CAP and is designed to deliver broad environmental and biodiversity benefits by aligning financial support with climate and land use objectives.  

ENDS

Notes for editors:

There are currently 3,650 participants. REAP contracts expire at the end of 2022.

The current round of REAP payments includes the participation and environmental payments (calculated from field scoring and assessment) and late meadow bonus. Payments for complementary actions (tree and hedge planting and hedge gapping) totaling €400,000 issued earlier in the year to 400 REAP farmers.    

Farmers wishing to contact the Department regarding their REAP payment can do so by email to rbp@agriculture.gov.ie or via the Department’s Helpdesk at 053 9163425 . The full details of REAP can be found at gov.ie - Results Based Environment Agri Pilot Programme (REAP) (www.gov.ie).

County Breakdown of payments: