Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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382. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application form for the young farmer scheme will be finalised in respect of a person in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4961/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted applications to the 2023 Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers scheme and the young farmer category of the 2023 National Reserve as the young farmer in a Registered Farm Partnership.

My Department has requested outstanding documentation required in support of these applications.

When the outstanding documentation is submitted the applications will be further processed and the person named will be notified of the outcome.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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383. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if ACRES payments, both under the general and co-operation projects, are subject to income tax and USC, his views on same, if he will comment on scenarios where an individual receiving two ACRES payments in 2024 will be subject to a greater level of taxation than would otherwise have been the case had ACRES payments been paid in 2023 and 2024 as previously announced, and, as a consequence, will receive a lower level of after-tax support under ACRES, if he is considering action to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5024/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together.

Taxation policy is primarily the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Finance, and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners has responsibility for the operation of the taxation system. However, we do engage on taxation issues relating to the agri-food sector with a view to supporting Government policy in this regard.

In this context, the Deputy may also be aware that there is a system for income averaging for farmers. This is an important agri-taxation measure and it assists in addressing income volatility in allowing farmers to pay tax based on the average of five years’ farming profits and losses.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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385. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) has not received their ACRES payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5027/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The person named was approved into Tranche 1 of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2023.

I can confirm that the ACRES claim for the person named is progressing through the necessary validation checks. This claim is one of a batch of claims that has not yet issued, and my officials are working to facilitate payment as soon as possible.

I fully appreciate the frustration felt by farmers experiencing payment delays and their concern regarding uncertainty of payments, and I want to reassure you that everything is being done to pay all ACRES applicants who clear pre-payment checks as a matter of priority.