Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the deputy is aware, and in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) was launched in 2022. 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 eligible applicants put significant pressure on the ability to make an advance payment to participants by the end of December last year.

On 15 December I announced that payments to the value of €76.5 million had commenced to more than 17,100 ACRES General participants. The remaining approximately 9,500 ACRES General participants will continue to be processed for payment, with payments issuing early in 2024 subject to passing validation checks. For ACRES Co-operation Project (CP) participants, payments will commence in February to those of the 18,400 eligible participants in this stream who pass validation and other checks.

My Officials are continuing to work to expedite payments, and I want to reassure the Deputy that everything is being done to pay, as soon as possible, all ACRES participants who clear pre-payment checks.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the Programme for Government commitment, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), was launched in 2022. 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 up to 50,000 applicants over two Tranches, with 30,000 in Tranche 1, as a Government the decision was made to accept all valid applications submitted under Tranche 1. There are currently just under 46,000 farmers actively participating in the scheme.

ACRES Payments commenced on December 15th, with payment issuing in the initial payment run to two thirds of all ACRES General participants. A total of €76.5m was paid to more than 17,000 ACRES General participants, with an average payment of almost €4,500 per individual farmer. ACRES advance payments represent 85% of the total scheme year payment, with the balance to be paid later in 2024.

ACRES payments have added to the range of financial supports - coming to a total of approximately €1.4 billion - delivered to Irish farmers under the new CAP Strategic Plan since October. This includes payments under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS), the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, Eco Scheme, and the Organic Farming Scheme.

Pay runs will continue this month for ACRES general participants as they pass all required validation checks. Due to the additional complexity associated with the Co-operation Project (CP) stream, payments for ACRES CP participants will begin to issue in February 2024. There are no plans to make additional supports available in the interim.