Roscommon-Galway TD Claire Kerrane has called on Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to provide a clear timeline for when delayed Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) payments will be made to Farmers.
Deputy Kerrane again called on the Minister to provide answers on delays to ACRES payments in December.
Minister McConalogue said that ACRES general stream payments would continue, while ACRES co-operation project (CP) payments would commence in February.
But the Sinn Féin TD raised concerns that no further information has been provided since then.
There are 28,084 farmers who still have not received an ACRES payment, including around 9,500 Farmers participating in the general stream and 18,438 Farmers participating in the co-operation areas.
“I queried the Minister on timelines for outstanding ACRES payments in December and again two weeks ago,” said Deputy Kerrane.
“Both times he stated that his Department would continue to process general stream payments ‘subject to validation checks’, and that CP stream payments would commence in February.
“Yet, we have no further information on when CP stream payments will be made, despite us now being two days away from the start of February. It is unbelievable that 18,438 Farmers still do not know when they can expect their ACRES CP payment.
“As well as this, around 9,500 Farmers are still awaiting their general stream payment.”
