Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Smith for raising this important issue. As I stated, 46,000 farmers applied for ACRES and were all facilitated, even though initially the number of participants it could be anticipated could be taken in was just 30,000. There have been challenges in the additional complexity associated with the co-operation stream, the CP stream, and payments by ACRES CP participants are being progressed and will begin to issue in February 2024. Payments will commence on 18 December, with two thirds of all the ACRES recipients in receipt of them. I will bring to the Minister's attention the specific suggestion Deputy Smith put forward.

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