Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a flagship environmental scheme, namely the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), was launched last year. There was exceptional demand for entry into the Scheme, which demonstrates the interest of farmers to take on actions to address climate, biodiversity and environmental issues.

While it was initially planned to take in applicants in two Tranches with 30,000 in Tranche 1, as a Government the decision was made to accept all valid applications submitted, and there are now just under 46,000 farmers actively involved in the Scheme.

The decision to accept all 46,000 applicants has put significant pressure on the ability to pay all participants in 2023.

Officials have been working to expedite payments, but with the unprecedented numbers, it has not been possible to get all participants paid in ACRES by the year end. Payments will commence on December 18^thwith two thirds of all ACRES General participants in the final stages of being processed for payment in the initial payment run. Due to the additional complexity associated with the co-operation (CP) stream, payments for ACRES CP participants are being progressed and will begin to issue in February 2024.

Everything is being done to pay, as soon as possible, all ACRES participants who clear pre-payment checks.