Claims system for ACRES NPI payments to open on Thursday
The claims system for Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) participants who are undertaking Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) will open this Thursday (July 17).
NPIs are complementary actions available under the ACRES Co-operation (CP) approach with farmers being supported to take a tailored approach to benefitting nature on their farms.
NPIs are applied for on behalf of farmers by their ACRES advisor as part of an NPI ‘Annual Works Plan’ (AWP).
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon announced today (Tuesday, July 15) that "claims for payment for ACRES Co-operation participants with NPIs may now be submitted in respect of both 2023 and 2024".
"Farmers may lodge their own claims or engage an advisor to do so. These actions are an integral element of ACRES, supporting farmers to enhance environmental outcomes on their holdings, thereby increasing their ACRES payments.
“Almost 4,300 applicants received approval for actions in the 2023 scheme year, and it is heartening to see this number increased to approximately 4,800 in 2024.
"The third application window will open later this quarter and I encourage farmers to continue to avail of the funding available to them through NPIs," he said.
Minister Heydon said that farmers in ACRES "have consistently shown their commitment to environmental protection and enhancement".
"I am greatly encouraged by the level of interest shown by participants in availing of these actions which, when complete, will improve biodiversity, protect endangered species, and improve water quality," he said.
The most popular actions include the installation of gates to prevent over and under-grazing; the provision of boxes to provide nesting sites for threatened species such as barn owls or kestrels; and the installation of water troughs which help protect watercourses along with providing drinking points for livestock.
A total of 76,028 NPI actions have been approved since 2023, with almost 42,000 approved last year.
The closing date for submission of claims is noted on the NPI decision letters for the respective year of application. Payments for submitted claims will start to issue by early October at the latest.
Ahead of the opening of the claims system the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) will hold a short, live webinar at 10:00a.m on Thursday (July 17) to demonstrate the claims process.
Manuals for farmers and advisors to lodge NPI claims will also be available on the department website on July 17.
ACRES is the agri-environment climate measure under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027.
The scheme is jointly funded by the European Union and the national exchequer.
