Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1682. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated to ACRES; and the amount actually paid out in ACRES payments in each of the past five years and to date in 2025. [18872/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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ACRES is the flagship environmental scheme provided under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, with €1.5 billion in Exchequer and EU funding allocated over the course of the scheme.

As of 28th April 2025, across the first two years of the scheme (2023 & 2024), a total of €452 million has been paid to participants in respect of their participation in ACRES.

Payments continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases pass all required validation checks. My Department will continue to issue regular online updates over the coming period on the progress being made, with the expectation of having the vast majority of payments in respect of farmers’ participation in ACRES in 2023 and 2024 made by the end of May 2025, and the remaining more complex cases paid by the end of June 2025.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1683. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who applied to ACRES; the number who have received payments and the number of outstanding ACRES payments in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18873/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The total number of active participants in ACRES, as of 28 April 2025, is 54,177. Of these, 44,860 commenced their ACRES contracts on 1 January 2023 (Tranche 1) and 9,317 commenced their contracts on 1 January 2024 (Tranche 2).

Following the latest payment run on 25 April 2025, 43,368 ACRES participants, or just under 97%, are fully paid in respect of the 2023 scheme year. This means that 1,492 participants have not yet had their 2023 contract finalised.

In relation to the 2024 scheme year, 47,477 participants, which represents just under 88%, have now received their advance payment. In turn, 12%, or 6,700 farmers, await their 2024 advance payment.

Payments continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases pass all required validation checks. The issues which are impacting on the making of certain payments have been identified and are being worked through. A dedicated team has been put in place to complete the outstanding 2023 cases, and resources are being allocated, where required, to ensure that remaining payments are made as soon as possible.

My Department will continue to issue regular online updates over the coming period on the progress being made, with the expectation of having the vast majority of payments made by the end of May 2025, and the remaining more complex cases paid by the end of June 2025.

The following table represents the number of participants paid and awaiting payment following the latest payment run on 25 April 2025.