96% of 2025 ACRES advance payments issued, says Sligo/Leitrim minister

Sligo/Leitrim Minister Marian Harkin this week spoke of the "success of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), highlighting the strong environmental, climate and biodiversity benefits being delivered alongside timely financial supports for farmers."

The Minister said that the issuing of 96% of 2025 ACRES advance payments "reflects significant progress in scheme delivery and provides welcome certainty for participating farmers."

To date, €741 million has issued to ACRES participants.

Commenting on the scheme, Minister Harkin said: “ACRES represents a strong partnership between farmers, the State and the wider public. Farmers are voluntarily delivering tangible environmental improvements on their land, and it is right that they are supported and paid promptly for this work. The high level of advance payments issued this year is a positive and encouraging development.” Minister Harkin emphasised that ACRES is delivering measurable benefits at scale, with approximately 1.5 million hectares — almost a quarter of Ireland’s agricultural land — now managed under the scheme. She highlighted the breadth of actions being implemented by farmers, all of which contribute to national climate, biodiversity and water quality objectives. “Through ACRES, farmers are planting hedgerows and trees, protecting watercourses, supporting farmland birds, and managing land in a way that enhances biodiversity and landscape quality,” the Minister said. “These actions are not abstract targets — they are visible on the ground and they are making a real difference.”

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The Minister also welcomed the cultural and heritage benefits arising from the scheme, including the maintenance of approximately 10,000 kilometres of traditional dry-stone walls, which she described as “a valuable link between sustainable farming practices and Ireland’s living rural heritage.”

Minister Harkin further noted the importance of the ACRES Co-operation approach, which allows farmers in high-priority areas to undertake additional non-productive investments and landscape actions. She welcomed the fact that over €3.6 million has already been paid to more than 1,500 participants for such works, enhancing the long-term environmental quality of their land.

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“ACRES demonstrates that environmental ambition and farm viability can go hand in hand,” the Minister added. “The scheme is delivering value for money for the taxpayer, meaningful outcomes for the environment, and practical, workable supports for farmers.”

The Minister concluded by commending farmers, advisors, co-operation project teams and all stakeholders involved in ACRES for their "ongoing commitment", and expressed her confidence that the benefits of the scheme will continue to grow over its lifetime.