Brendan Smith
Question:302. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the planned payment dates in 2024 for applicants under ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30821/24]
View answerThursday, 11 July 2024
Questions (302)
Written answers
Scheme year 2024 advance payments are scheduled to commence in November 2024.
Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) payments for scheme year 2023 commenced over the period December 2023 to January 2024, when €88.35 million was issued in advance payments to 19,719 ACRES General participants.
In recognition of the complexity of the scheme and the time required to fully process all payments, interim payments issued to all other participants in February and March 2024. Payments of €4,000 were made to General participants and €5,000 to Co-Operation participants.
My Department commenced balancing payments on the 19th of June. A total of 31,808 participants have been paid to date, with total payments made to ACRES participants since last December now amounting to just under €234 million. Further balancing payments will continue to be made on a fortnightly basis as cases are cleared.