John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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352. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine The reason a penalty was applied to 2023 ACRES scheme payment in respect of a farmer in Co. Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28072/25]

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.

I can confirm that the total contract value for the 2023 scheme year amounted to €5,734.75. However, a 20% penalty was imposed on the 2023 payment claim due to the non-submission of scorecards on this contract.

The total penalty amounted to €1,146.95 which, when deducted, left a total payment due of €4,587.80. This was less than the interim payment which issued in February 2024 in the sum of €5,000, which resulted in an overpayment of €412.20.

I can confirm that a statement of the 2023 ACRES payment claim and penalty issued to the herdowner on 19 May 2025 and a full breakdown of the payments on each action issued to the herdowner's advisor on 20 May 2025, as requested.

The breakdown of the 2023 payment, and penalty, is as below.