Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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382. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total sum paid in ACRES payments to date in 2025; to provide an estimate of the total sum remaining to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52913/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or 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. There are currently just under 54,000 participants in ACRES.

A total of €97,809,072.66 has been paid to ACRES participants to date in the 2025 calendar year, as reflected in the online update published on my Department's website.

Over 97% of scheme participants are now fully up to date with payments. I can confirm that the processing of payments continues on a weekly basis across all scheme years and tranches for the remaining participants. I cannot provide an estimate of the total sum remaining to be paid as it is not possible to determine the value of an ACRES contract in advance, as each payment is only calculated as it issues.

In addition, advance payments in respect of scheme year 2025 are due to commence in November 2025.