The average core payment to farmers in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is just over €5,000.

ACRES, is the flagship environmental scheme provided under Ireland's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

€1.5 billion in national exchequer and EU funding has been allocated over the course of the scheme.

ACRES

In response to a recent parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon confirmed there are currently 53,209 participants in ACRES.

"From 2023 to 2025, €713,190,000 issued to participants in core scheme payments, that is excluding Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) and payments for participating in ACRES training.

"The average core payment is €5,053," the minister said.

There are two approaches available to farmers under the agri-environmental scheme.

ACRES General offers a range of measures, while ACRES Co-operation is available to farmers in defined high priority geographical areas.

The general approach offers a maximum payment of €7,311 per year.

The level of payment a farmer may achieve will be determined by the payment rates for the actions selected and undertaken satisfactorily.

The co-operation stream offers up to €10,500 a year with a maximum results-based payment of €7,000 and an extra non-productive investment and landscape maximum of €3,500.

For these farmers the level of payment will be determined by results-based scorecards, non-productive investments, and landscape actions, which will be designed for land-types and region.

Minister Heydon recently confirmed that "almost 96% of all ACRES participants are now up to date with payments".

The minister added that a total of 2,161 participants in the scheme are awaiting payments.