The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has estimated that 790 farmers who are taking part in the Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) have not attended a "mandatory training" course.

It has also indicated that it might now be prepared to consider "extending" the deadline by which farmers have to compete the mandatory course,

According to DAFM it plans to contact all of the ACRES farmers who have not yet completed the training course to advise them to make arrangements to attend a course.

It is estimated that there may be 100 farmers in Co. Galway who are taking part in the scheme who have yet to complete the training course, while there could be in the region of 80 farmers in Co. Clare who have also yet to attend the training course.

Last month the department confirmed that it would extending the deadline, by which farmers had to attend a training course to February 28, 2025.

In order to fulfil the requirements of the ACRES scheme, farmers must attend a single, compulsory ACRES training course in the first year of their participation in the scheme.

"This is to facilitate knowledge transfer and acquisition of information on specific actions, complemented by on-line demonstrations, advice on good environmental practices," according to DAFM.

The department has warned that because attendance at the mandatory ACRES training course is a core requirement of the scheme farmers could risk having their participation in the scheme "reviewed".

They might also face the "possibility of termination of contract and recoupment of monies paid" DAFM has indicated if they do not complete the training course.

Earlier this week the department issued a circular to ACRES trainers asking them if they would confirm if they intend to provide a mandatory ACRES courses by February 28, 2025.

DAFM stated: "It is recognized that there is a very limited timeframe within which to arrange, create, confirm and provide the courses, given that the deadline is February 28 2025.

"However, if you are prepared to give a firm commitment that you would provide a course in early March 2025, the department would be prepared to give consideration to extending the deadline to accommodate those".