North Leitrim Sinn Fein Councillor "disappointed" at delay in ACRE's payments

North Leitrim Sinn Fein Cllr Padraig Fallon has expressed his disappointment to a reply received by party colleague Claire Kerrane TD Spokesperson for Agriculture and Rural Affairs around the ongoing delay in the ACRES payment saga. Deputy Kerrane had asked the minister the expected date that farmers awaiting payment under the ACRES co-operation scheme will be paid on in view that he previously confirmed payments would commence in February 2024.

Cllr Fallon said it appears the Minister still cannot provide a date for when farmers can expect to receive their payment, stating in reply to  Deputy Kerrane ‘’ACRES Co-operation Project payments are more complex to administer. Work is ongoing in this regard, with every effort being made to deliver payments as quickly as possible.’’

Cllr Fallon added that "this just simply isn’t good enough, those awaiting payment need payment immediately farmers will have their businesses structured around receiving these payments on the dates they get them every year. Delaying them has impacted bank repayments and cashflow to meet other bills,” he said.

Last month Cllr Fallon proposed that Manorhamilton municipal district write to the Minister and the Department of Agriculture urging the full ACRES payment be made to farmers in recognition of the difficulties caused by the delay in payment of the advance in December.  

Deputy Claire Kerrane queried that in the case where a farmer receives two ACRES payments in 2024 would they then “be subject to a greater level of taxation than would otherwise have been the case had ACRES payments been paid in 2023 and 2024”.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed last December that not all ACRES participants would receive their payments by the close of 2023  and that due to “additional complexity associated with the co-operation (CP) stream” payments for ACRES CP participants would not be paid out until February 2024.