Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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732. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the steps he is taking to improve the processing times for the ACRES scheme; when the approximately 7,500 who are due payments under the first round will receive them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25504/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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ACRES payments continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases pass all required validation checks. Last week I announced that balancing payments in respect of the 2024 scheme year have commenced, with over €33 million issuing to 42,444 participants.

A total of €490 million has now issued since ACRES payments commenced at the end of 2023.

In the case of the 2023 scheme year, 97% of participants have been paid in full. As regards 2024, 90% of participants have received their advance payments, and almost 88% of these have now received a balancing payment.

I want to be very clear that my Department is committed to resolving the issues that have been delaying the remaining payments as soon as possible, and is making progress in this regard. Additional resources have been deployed, and we are systematically working through the remaining issues associated with the outstanding cases.

These issues can range from internal departmental matters such as the processing of changes of ownership and the finalisation of payment calculation processes, to external, applicant- or advisor-related matters such as the submission of Rare Breeds and Soil Sampling documentation.

My Department will continue to issue regular online updates over the coming period on the progress being made, with the aim 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 in June 2025.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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733. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he and Government will work to ensure that reform of the GAEC 2 scheme is included in the upcoming EU simplification package of agri schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25515/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The proposals for CAP simplification were published last week (14th May) by Commissioner Hansen.

I welcome any proposals that will simplify and reduce the administrative burden for farmers and for national administrations. However, as with any new legislation, we will need to carefully examine the details of the proposals,and evaluate the potential impact for Ireland.

It is worth emphasising that the draft amending Regulation will only take legal effect after it goes through the process of co-decision, with input from the European Parliament and the Council.

My Department asked for the removal of GAEC 2 from the Regulations, on the basis of overlap between these requirements and other national and EU legislation. However, the removal of GAEC 2 has not been included in the Commission proposal. So, GAEC 2 will remain a conditionality requirement, and will be applied from this year onwards.

The proposal does acknowledge that the GAEC2 standard should take account of national legislative provisions (something my Department suggested), and that is welcome.

The proposal provides that costs arising from GAEC 2 compliance can now be included in the calculation of costs for eco-schemes or agri-environmental schemes.

In relation to the possibility of using these new provisions, it is important to note:

• Firstly, that Ireland's CSP funding is already fully committed under the existing schemes. No new funding is available as part of the Simplification proposals.
• Secondly, that the GAEC 2 standard for Ireland is based on existing national legislation and usual farming practices. Therefore, it will have minimal impact on farmers’ day to day operations.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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734. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in counties Roscommon and Galway waiting for an ACRES payment for 2023, 2024 and for 2025. [25518/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The following table presents the information requested by the Deputy at this point in time. Please note this table includes cases where payment issued but the participant has since withdrawn from the scheme.

ACRES 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 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 aim 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 in June 2025.