Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
980. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for the number of farmers still impacted by the delay in payments under the ACRES scheme for 2023 on a county by county basis, when the issue will be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12638/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 53,600 participants in ACRES.
The following table represents the number of farmers awaiting their ACRES payment in respect of scheme year 2023.
|
County |
Total |
|
Carlow |
2 |
|
Cavan |
2 |
|
Clare |
4 |
|
Cork |
7 |
|
Donegal |
13 |
|
Dublin |
1 |
|
Galway |
15 |
|
Kerry |
10 |
|
Kildare |
2 |
|
Kilkenny |
2 |
|
Laois |
3 |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
|
Limerick |
4 |
|
Longford |
2 |
|
Louth |
2 |
|
Mayo |
8 |
|
Meath |
3 |
|
Monaghan |
2 |
|
Offaly |
3 |
|
Roscommon |
2 |
|
Sligo |
4 |
|
Tipperary |
2 |
|
Waterford |
3 |
|
Westmeath |
2 |
|
Wexford |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
3 |
|
Total |
106 |
A total of almost €743.2 million has been paid in respect of the core ACRES scheme to date to ACRES participants. About 99.8% of those eligible for payment for the 2023 scheme year have been paid, while almost 97% of active participating herds are fully up to date with payments, including advance payments in respect of participation in 2025.
In respect of the majority of the remaining 2023 scheme year cases, payments have not yet issued because the legalities following death of the contract holder have not been finalised to date. Once any case passes the required validation checks it will be added to the next scheduled payment run. Payment runs are currently scheduled on a weekly basis.
It is important to note that these figures are accurate at this moment in time but are subject to change for various reasons, such as when probate is finalised and payment issues, when participants withdraw from the scheme or when participants are reinstated into the scheme following a successful appeal.
