The issuing of payments under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) has "gathered considerable momentum as knowledge and experience of the scheme has improved".

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said "functionality has been deployed to address challenges that were encountered" with ACRES.

"ACRES is an ambitious and complex scheme, and there have been challenges as a result," Minister Heydon said.

"We are overcoming those challenges through the commitment of all those involved in the scheme."

The minister said the main issues which have impacted on the making of payments have been identified as:

Contract and ownership/partnership issues;
Issues with scorecards;
Alignment of ACRES data with BISS information.

"My department is actively resolving the remaining issues through, for example, the development of the required IT functionality and the investigation of issues associated with specific contracts," Minister Heydon said in an update.

"In cases such as change of contract, my department is unable to progress the payment claim until the legal requirements have been resolved."

Momentum

He said the issuing of payments has "gathered considerable momentum as knowledge and experience of the scheme has improved".

The minister added: "I appreciate the patience that was shown by the participants as we resolved these challenges.

"My department has been developing solutions to solve issues permanently rather than applying a quick fix, in order to ensure that these solutions avoid the same issues presenting again.

ACRES is the flagship environmental scheme provided under the 2023-2027 Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan, with €1.5 billion in exchequer and EU funding allocated over the course of the scheme.

There are currently just over 53,600 participants in ACRES.

ACRES payments issue on a scheme year basis, with 2023 being the first scheme year for tranche 1 participants, and 2024 being the first year for those who are in tranche 2.

ACRES payments

Almost €250 million has issued in respect of the 2023 scheme year, with over 99% of participants paid.

A total of €268.8 million has issued in respect of the 2024 scheme year, and almost 99% have now received the payment.

2025 advance payments commenced in November 2025 and are continuing to be paid.

Approximately €222.5 million has issued to date, and 96% of participants are now fully up to date with 2025 payments.

These payments will bring the amount paid in respect of ACRES since its commencement in 2023 to just over €741 million.