Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 May 2024
234. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that repayments are arranged on a case-by-case basis and not taken out from the balancing payment given his Department was unable to pay ACRES participants as planned, and interim payments were issued which may in part need to be re-couped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24522/24]
View answerPayments for the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) General stream commenced in December last, and by the end of February, the majority of participants had received payment.
On 9th February 2024 I announced that an interim payment would be made to support those Tranche 1 participants who had not yet received their advance payment in respect of 2023. I made a further announcement on 15th February 2024 outlining the amounts to be paid, with ACRES General participants to receive an interim payment of €4,000 and ACRES Co-operation participants to receive an interim payment of €5,000.
My Department wrote to all participants receiving an interim payment on the 29th February 2024 to advise that the final ACRES Year 1 payments will be based on the ACRES actions approved in their contract and, where results-based actions are included, the scores assigned by their advisor. It was also advised that if the ACRES payment calculation amounts to less than the interim payment, the difference/shortfall will be shown on the participant's Department account as a debt and will be offset against future payments. Should this situation arise, the Department will write to the participant at that time notifying them of the debt and its amount and will outline repayment options available to them. I expect that these payments will commence in June.
