Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The application process for the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, closed yesterday evening and there was probably a frenzy of activity within the Department to handle all the applications that came in. My question relates to the farmers who have not applied or had time to apply or have missed the deadline through no fault of their own. The Minister intends to reopen the application process towards the end of next year. Can he do that earlier in the spring so that farmers can have some payment next year and will not have a gap year?

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