Longford Farming: Action on ACRES delays needed urgently – IFA

IFA Hill Farming chair Caillin Conneely has called on Minister McConalogue to intervene and quickly remove whatever obstacles are withholding balancing ACRES payments to hill farmers and those in ACRES Co-Operation zones.

“We are getting more and more calls from frustrated farmers who are disillusioned with ACRES. Many are giving serious consideration to leaving the scheme altogether. The scheme has fallen flat on its face and the blame lies with the Department.”

“Cash flow is becoming more and more an issue on farms. Farmers need their ACRES payments today, not whenever it suits the Department,” he said.

“We were told it was coming in May, then June, and more recently all would be sorted before the end September. The goalposts keep moving to suit the Department, not the farmer. It’s just not good enough, and the timeline of backlog clearances doesn’t inspire confidence either. Over 10,000 farmers are still waiting on their balancing payments, and not many were paid in the last month. We need to see a serious clear-out of the backlog for the Department to meet their latest commitment,” he said.

“They need to devote whatever resources are needed to quickly sort out this mess. They need to engage with farmers so they know where they stand, and they must provide assurances that these ongoing delays will not have any consequences for advance 2024 Tranche 1 or Tranche 2 ACRES payments,” he said.