Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

171. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers awaiting ACRES 2024 advance payments; the number of farmers still awaiting a 2023 balancing payment; the measures being taken to resolve delays in both these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25625/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Payments in respect of farmers' participation in the ACRES Scheme 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.

However, I am acutely aware that others are still awaiting payments.

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.

While we are continuing to work on those internal issues, I would also take this opportunity to remind farmers and advisors to submit, as soon as possible, any outstanding documentation that will allow my Department to progress and complete their claims in the coming weeks.

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.

Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

172. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the introduction of social conditionality in the 2025 BISS scheme constitutes double jeopardy (details supplied); the steps his Department will take to review this policy and ensure that farmers are not unfairly penalised under multiple headings for a single infringement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25702/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

From 1 January 2025, Ireland is operating a system of social conditionality, as required in EU CAP Regulations and Ireland's approved CAP Strategic Plan.

The system operates using cross-reporting and will not involve on-farm inspections by my Department. Competent Authorities responsible for the legislation namely the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSAI) will cross report to my department each year any non-compliances that lead to enforceable decisions taken directly against a beneficiary who is determined to be in breach of national legislation, and which strictly concern either:

- The agricultural activity of the beneficiary; or

- The holding and agricultural area managed by the beneficiary.

Cross-reporting notifications from the Competent Authorities will include at least:

- A description of the non-compliance, and previous history where relevant.

- An assessment and rating of the severity, extent, permanence, and intentionality of the non-compliance.

This approach will ensure consistency in relation to the cross reports my Department may receive. In addition, I do not consider such an approach constitutes double jeopardy as any potential breach(es) will be assessed separately in relation to the beneficiary’s obligations with respect to Social Conditionality which they commit to when lodging the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application and breaches of national legislation.

Cross reporting from Competent Authorities was introduced in 2005 with the introduction of Cross Compliance and my officials are experienced in ensuring that farmers are not unfairly penalised for breaching multiple areas of Conditionality and in addition, the EU Regulations specifies how to address multiple breaches.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department will examine any Cross Report received in respect of potential breaches of Social Conditionality carefully, fairly and will consider all the factors in the case. Where a farmer is unhappy with a decision taken by my Department, there are a number of appeals options available including an appeal to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office.