The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has said that a total of €513.5 million has now been paid out to farmers under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES).

Up to Monday (July 21), €264.8 million was issued to farmers for participation in the scheme in 2024, while €248.7 million was paid for participation in 2023.

The department said that balancing payments, in respect of participation in the scheme in 2023, were made on July 18 to 19 participants, with those payments amounting to €6,317.

This means that 44,323 participants, or 99% of all ACRES Tranche 1 participants have now been paid for participation in ACRES in 2023.

A total of 317 farmers have yet to receive their final payments for 2023. Of these, 39 have already received an interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000, respectively.

DAFM noted that in many instances, this will cover the entire amount of the payment due.

The department said that processing of these cases continues, and payments are being made on a weekly basis to those participants whose contracts have been cleared.

Advance payments, in respect of participation in the scheme in 2024, were made on July 18 to 97 participants, with those payments amounting to €376,306.

This payment run brought total 2024 advance payments to over €226 million, paid to 52,594 farmers, or almost 98% of all ACRES participants.

Advance payments in respect of scheme participation in 2024 have still to be made to 1,320 ACRES participants across tranches 1 and 2.

Of these 1,320 participants, 317 are also awaiting their balancing payment in respect of 2023, as that must be paid before the 2024 advance payment may be made to them.

DAFM said that advance payments in respect of 2024 "will continue to be made weekly to ensure timely payments to the remaining participants once their contracts are cleared for payment".

Balancing payments in respect of participation in the ACRES in 2024 commenced on May 15.

The most recent payment run of July 18 paid €85,145 to a further 123 participants.

This brought the total paid in balancing payments in respect of 2024 to over €38.7 million to 51,283 participants. This means that 95% of all participants are up-to-date with payments.

DAFM has again encouraged farmers and advisers to submit, as soon as possible, any outstanding documentation that will allow the department to progress and complete their claims in the coming weeks.