Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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1746. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the number of farmers who have received ACRES payments over the past three years, per county, in tabular form. [20532/25]

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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1747. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the number of farmers accepted to the ACRES scheme who have not received any payment under the scheme to date in 2025, by county, in tabular form. [20533/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1746 and 1747 together.

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, of which 1,198 have already received an interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000, respectively.

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 in respect of farmers’ participation in ACRES in 2023 and 2024 made by the end of May 2025, with the remaining more complex cases paid by the end of June 2025.

The requested breakdown of figures per county is currently being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy on completion.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1748. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all outstanding ACRES payments to farmers in County Kerry can be expedited as a matter of urgency; how many payments have issued to date in 2025; how many are outstanding; how long it will take before all farmers receive their payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20625/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Following the latest payment run, 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. 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, with the remaining more complex cases paid by the end of June 2025.

The requested breakdown of figures for county Kerry is currently being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy on completion.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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1749. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many ACRES applications are awaiting processing, approval and payment as of 18 April 2025; if he will provide the data on a county basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20640/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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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, of which 1,198 have already received an interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000, respectively.

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 in respect of farmers’ participation in ACRES in 2023 and 2024 made by the end of May 2025, with the remaining more complex cases paid by the end of June 2025.

The requested breakdown of figures per county is currently being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy on completion.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1750. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite a 2024 ACRES payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20673/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The person named submitted an application under the ACRES Co-operation stream and was approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023.

An interim payment in respect of their participation in the Scheme in 2023 issued to the participant in February 2024. The balancing payment in respect of 2023 issued in September 2024.

The advance payment claim associated with this herd in respect of participation in ACRES in 2024 has not yet cleared all the necessary pre-payment validation checks. My Department has been in direct contact with the agricultural advisor of the person named, and is awaiting a response to progress the claim.

I can assure you that everything is being done to pay, as soon as possible, all ACRES participants who clear pre-payment checks.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1751. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite a 2024 ACRES payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20676/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The herd named was accepted into Tranche 2 of ACRES General with a start date of 1st January 2024.

To date this case has not passed all the required 2024 advance payment validations. My Department is continuing to investigate and progress the remaining ACRES contracts advance payment in respect of 2024, including this particular case, with the expectation of having the majority of outstanding payments made by the end May of this year.

As cases are resolved, they are added to the next scheduled pay run. Pay runs are taking place every week in order to ensure that these payments are issued in a timely manner.

In addition, my Department will continue to issue regular online updates over the coming period on the progress being made.