The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed that the total amount paid to farmers in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) currently stands at approximately €512.8 million.

According to DAFM almost €264.1 million of this total specifically relates to ACRES 2024 while over €248.6 million relates to farmer participation in the 2023 scheme.

The department has said that almost 95% of all ACRES participants "are now fully paid in respect of their participation in the scheme in 2023 and 2024".

Latest figures released by the departments show that balancing payments for participation in ACRES in 2023 were made to 54 participants and amounted to €56,965.90, on July 4.

This means that 44,240 participants in ACRES in 2023 or 99% of all Tranche 1 participants have been paid a total €248.6 million.

However DAFM has also acknowledged that a total 460 farmers have yet to receive their final payments for 2023.

Of these, 182 have received an interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000, and according to DAFM this may cover the entire amount of the payment due.

"Processing of these cases continues, and payments are being made on a weekly basis tothose participants whose contracts have been cleared during that period," the department stated.

According to DAFM advance payments, in respect of participation in the Scheme in 2024, were also made on July 4, 2025 to 40 participants, and these payments amounted to €167,104.72.

This payment run brought total 2024 advance payments to over 98% of all ACRES participants - or 52,434 farmers - who were paid over €225.44 million.

DAFM has confirmed that advance payments in respect of scheme participation in 2024 have still to be made to 1,546 ACRES participants across Tranches 1 and 2.

Out of these 1,546 participants, 460 are also awaiting their balancing payment in relation to 2023, because that must be paid before the 2024 advance payment may be made to them.

"Advance payments in respect of 2024 will continue to be made weekly to ensure timelypayments to the remaining participants once their contracts are cleared for payment," the department added.

According to the latest update on ACRES, balancing payments in respect of participation in the scheme in 2024 began on May 15, 2025.

The most recent payment run of July 4, 2025 paid €305,143.72 to a further 449 farmers.

This brought the total paid in balancing payments in respect of 2024 to over €38.6 million, to 51,066 participants.

This means that almost 95% of all participants are up to date with payments.

DAFM has pointed to three key reasons for the delay in ACRES payments to farmers including;

Contract and ownership/partnership issues;
Issues with scorecards - incorrect score, scorecards not submitted, alignment of scorecards with data from the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS);
Alignment of ACRES data with 2024 BISS information.

The department also said it is "actively resolving the remaining issues" and highlighted that one way it was doing this was with the "development of the required IT functionality and the investigation of issues associated with specific contracts".

It warned however, that the "non-submission to date by participants, or by their ACRES advisors on their behalf, of certain returns also impacted on the making of advance payments to them in respect of 2024".

DAFM added: "Farmers and advisors are encouraged to submit, as soon as possible, any outstanding documentation that will allow the department to progress and complete their claims in the coming weeks".