Over 450 farmers in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency are awaiting ACRES scheme payments, 400 of whom are awaiting payments from 2024 while over 50 remain unpaid for 2023, according to Sinn Féin TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, Natasha Newsome Drennan.

This backlog in payments is reportedly causing “a breakdown in trust” among impacted farmers, due to the resulting cashflow problems suffered during what is an "important" time in the farming calendar.

Newsome Drennan has stressed deep concerns for farmers over the mounting financial pressures facing them on account of these prolonged delays in ACRES scheme payments.

Speaking on the gravity of the issue, Deputy Newsome Drennan stated: “I have been contacted by scores of farmers across Carlow and Kilkenny, who are exhausted, frustrated, and furious.

"They’ve upheld their end of the agreement, investing time and labour into biodiversity measures on their land, yet the Department of Agriculture has left them in the dark. Leaving farmers checking accounts daily in the hope of payment."

She has called on Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, to prioritise resolving the backlog in payments, which is serving as a disincentive to join in its current state, and to reinstall faith in the proper functioning of the system.

“The minister cannot continue to hide behind excuses over the delays. With €260 million allocated to ACRES, a modern and fit for purpose IT system should be in place to ensure these payments are delivered in timely manner. These delays are eroding faith in the entire scheme," Newsome Drennan said.

"These delays certainly won’t encourage more farmers to take part in the scheme. Farmers entered ACRES in good faith and the state’s failure to reciprocate this is causing a breakdown in trust.

"Empty assurances from the minister won’t feed livestock or repair storm damage. The time for deflection is over, the minister needs to urgently intervene,” she added.