Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. That confirmation of payment at the end of the month is very welcome. As I said, we welcomed the interim payments. All the farm organisations welcomed them as well. This is a scheme that we all want to see work. It is, as the Minister described it, the flagship environmental scheme. There was huge demand for the scheme, and it was welcome that all 46,000 applicants were allowed in. I acknowledge that. However, when farmers are so willing to take part in something like ACRES and doing the work sometimes at a cost to themselves, the Department really needs to keep its side of the bargain. It is extremely regrettable that these payments are being made so late. We need definitive confirmation regarding the payments that were supposed to be made in full by May. We need to know whether that timeline is going to be adhered to in the context of the remaining payments.

The Minister will be aware that concerns have been raised in relation to tax complications because farmers will now receive two payments in 2024. Has the Minister looked at that? This is a significant concern for farmers and is happening through no fault of their own. Obviously, these payments are taxable.

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