An independent TD is calling on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to carry out a review of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES).
Deputy Seán Canney said he is concerned that Ireland’s €1.5 billion flagship agri-environment climate scheme as it is currently designed “is not delivering the expected support for farmers”.
The Galway East TD said that he has been contacted by farmers who have been disappointed with the “very low” scores they have received which is “resulting in very poor outcome”.
“The value of grants being approved is very low and is nowhere near the average grant of €5,000, which was indicated by the department when the scheme was launched.
“This is very worrying for farmers who are relying on this scheme as part of their yearly cashflow,” he said.
Deputy Canney also claimed that the scoring for the scheme is “not transparent” for farmers.
“At a time of severe increases in input costs and finance stress the last thing for farmers is to be left with little or no income from ACRES.
“The department need to ensure the scheme is open and transparent to ensure a fair return for the farmer.
“A review and immediate action is required to ensure the scheme is flexible and delivers for farming,” he said.
ACRES
Last week, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue announced that over 8,600 remaining farmers should receive their ACRES balancing payments by the end of September.
The minister acknowledged the delays that have been experienced in the processing of payments for farmers who joined ACRES in Tranche 1.
“This scheme, with its scale, ambition and complexity, has presented challenges in terms of meeting the payment timelines envisaged at the time of its launch,” he said.
Minister McConalogue said that by the middle of March this year, “virtually all ACRES participants (44,780) had received either an 85% advance payment, or a flat rate interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000”.
At this stage, 36,410 farmers, or 82% of ACRES participants, have received their final balancing payment, adjusted, where appropriate, to account for the interim payment.
This brings payments to date in respect of the first year of the scheme to €241 million.
“My department is at present finalising the calculations for the 8,646 participants who have received an advance or interim payment, but have not yet received the final balancing payment for year one of the scheme.
“I have been working closely with the ACRES team to ensure that a plan is in place to ensure that these are finalised as soon as possible. I expect payments to be completed in respect of 95% of all ACRES participants by the end of September,” Minister McConalogue said.
“Of the 36,410 farmers who have received their full payment to date, the average total payment for ACRES General participants has been €5,200 and the average total core payment for those in the Cooperation stream has been €5,100, which is broadly in line with projections at the outset of the scheme,” he added.