The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has been called on to follow through on a commitment to begin a payment run of advance payments under the Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES).

In late December, then-Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue announced advance payments of €172 million under the scheme.

McConalogue said at the time that the processing of payments were continuing for those farmers who did not receive advance payments at the time, and that pay runs would be made on a fortnightly basis from the end of this month.

The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) is calling on the department to "pull out all the stops" to ensure all outstanding ACRES payments are paid out as a matter of priority.

John Curran, the association's rural development chairperson, said: "Close on one-in-four ACRES participants are still waiting on their advance 2024 ACRES payments, with some too, having only received interim payments in February [and] March last.

"The department committed that ACRES would commence again end-January. This has to be delivered upon, and not just for a select few, but the vast, vast majority of those waiting on ACRES payments. Anything less just isn’t good enough at this stage," Curran added.

He pointed out that the scheme is almost at its half-way point, being scheduled to run to 2027.

"What kind of business could be expected to survive with that sort of uncertainty. We need a resolution and payments here, not excuses. Payments need to land sooner rather than later," Curran said.

IFA hill farming chairperson Cáillin Conneely echoed those sentiments, saying: "There are thousands of farmers across the country battling and dealing with the aftermath of last week's winds, and the unforeseen additional cost that it will bring.

“Many farmers have had farm buildings, fences and hedgerows damaged, and there is still a large number without power...and are relying on generators, where available, to keep the show on the road," Conneely added.

"Farmers need money in their pockets now, not whenever the department gets around to getting its ship in order," he said.

The IFA is calling on the department and local authorities to "demonstrate their support" for impacted farmers by stopping on-the-ground inspections for a period of time to allow farmers assess and repair whatever damage has occurred without fear of an on-farm inspection.

"With regard to ACRES, this includes flexibility around any wind-caused damage to ACRES measures, including, for example, hedging. Additional flexibility and support will be required on all fronts," Conneely said.

He added: "We are dealing with unprecedented damage here and all we ask for is support and a degree of understanding for the challenges many are enduring currently."