2,161 ACRES applicants awaiting payments - minister
A total of 2,161 or 4% of applicants are currently awaiting payments for the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), according Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has confirmed.
The minister was answering a query on the matter from Kildare South Sinn Féin TD Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh.
Deputy Ní Raghallaigh asked the minister the number of farmers awaiting payment under agri-environmental schemes; the average waiting time for payment; and the measures being taken to address delays.
Minister Heydon replied: “The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES, is the flagship environmental scheme provided under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, with €1.5 billion in exchequer and EU funding allocated over the course of the scheme.
"There are currently just under 53,300 participants in ACRES.”
He added that over 99% of all participants in ACRES are fully paid in respect of their participation in the scheme in respect of 2023 and 2024, while almost 96% of the participants are now also fully paid up to date in respect to 2025.
The minister said: “These payments will bring the amount paid in respect of ACRES since its commencement in 2023 to just over €786.17 million.
“A further sum of over €8.3m has been paid to farmers in the ACRES Co-operation approach for the implementation of approved non-productive investments under the scheme.
"I can confirm that there are currently 2,161 or 4% of applicants currently awaiting payments under the scheme to date.”
Payments not made
Minister Heydon said that payments have not issued in respect of some of the remaining contracts as the legalities following death of the contract holder have not been finalised to date.
He added that delays in other cases may be due to non-receipt of documentation required for the calculation of the payment.
“My department is actively resolving the remaining issues through, for example, the development of the required IT functionality and the investigation of issues associated with specific contracts," he said.
“Data in relation to lengths of time that ACRES payments have been outstanding is not held by my department.
"Given the range of reasons causing delays in the issue of payment, it is not possible to provide an average duration of delay.”
According to the minister, issuing of payments has gathered momentum as knowledge and experience of the scheme has improved, and as functionality has been deployed to address challenges that were encountered.
“As is the case with all EU co-funded schemes, ACRES payment claims must pass regulatory controls and validations before payment can issue.
“ACRES pay runs are taking place weekly across all scheme years and tranches.
"I can assure you that everything is being done to pay, as soon as possible, all ACRES participants who clear pre-payment checks," Minister Heydon said.
