Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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We had 44,000 farmers apply for the first REPS. As a Minister for State in the Department at the time, I was very supportive of trying to reopen that scheme because there was increased demand. There was a big budgetary ask in that respect. The additional farmers who applied, bringing the total number of applicants to ACRES to 54,000 or thereabouts, were all facilitated. I have to manage my budget. We are working through the challenges in respect of the 5,000 remaining farmers but the vast majority of applicants, more than 90%, have been paid and are in the system, carrying out their actions and doing well. I have to reflect on the budget I have to see how I manage it for the remainder of the year in terms of the existing ACRES.