Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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748. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of delayed ACRES payments, by county, and by average duration of delay; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55354/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The requested breakdown of figures per county is currently being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy on completion.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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749. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that 396 farmers have yet to receive their final ACRES payment for 2023; when these payments will be processed; the reason for the continued delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55355/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, ACRES payments continue to issue on a weekly basis. More than 99.6% of participants have now had their 2023 ACRES payments finalised. I can confirm that there are now a total of 178 participants awaiting finalisation of their 2023 scheme year payments.

These are in a change of contract scenario, in that a change of ownership has taken place and certain legalities are likely to be contributing to the delay. In such cases my officials are unable to progress the payment claim until the legal requirements have been resolved.

Payments will continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases pass validation checks. Furthermore, once a payment issues, that case will automatically move forward to the validation checks for the next assigned payment. For example, a 2023 case will proceed to 2024 advance payment validations.

My Department will continue to provide weekly payment updates on its website.