Part of Ireland’s efforts under its upcoming Nature Restoration Plan may include the introduction of a new agri-environmental scheme operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Minister of State Christopher O’Sullivan, who has responsibility for the NPWS, said he would like to see a new, expanded version of the Farm Plan Scheme.

“What we want to do – and this is a key part of the Nature Restoration Plan – is when it comes to those voluntary farmers and people who will participate in nature restoration, my department will introduce something called Farm Plan Plus,” O’Sullivan said.

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“At the moment we have a Farm Plan, there’s only about 500 farmers signed up. We want to increase that to thousands.

“I want that payment to be additional to the basic payment which already receive and potentially an ACRES payment they may get,” he added.

“In other words, I do not want to see a situation when it comes to incentivising farmers where we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul.

“The Farm Plan expansion that I’m talking about would be an additional payment on top of other payments that exist,” he added.

Currently under Farm Plan, farmers are paid for the results they deliver based on a bespoke plan, typically running for five years. One-off actions are also available.

In 2025 some 200 applicants were approved entry to the scheme.