Frustration mounts among Leitrim farmers over delayed ACRES payments

As of February 2025, more than 12,000 farmers have yet to receive their 2024 payments from the Agri-Cultural Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) with nearly 3,000 still awaiting payments from 2023.

The Department of Agriculture has faced criticism for these delays in a scheme designed to support biodiversity while providing income assistance to up to 50,000 farm families in Ireland.

Cllr Paddy Farrell sought the backing of the Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District to contact the Minister for Agriculture, urging that all outstanding ACRES payments be issued as a matter of urgency. 

Describing the scheme as a “farce,” he pointed out that many farmers have yet to receive payments for both 2023 and 2024. 

“There’s a lot of young farmers out there that could do with the money. If it happened in any other sector there would be strikes everywhere,” Cllr Farrell said.

He also warned that the ongoing delays are “eroding farmers’ confidence in all farmers’ schemes.”

Cllr Farrell’s motion was widely supported.

‘Made in Leitrim’ campaign proposed to strengthen local agriculture

Cllr Justin Warnock proposed a motion to develop a strategy to support and promote Leitrim farm produce under an “Origin Leitrim” brand.

Cllr Enda Stenson emphasised the unfairness of the situation, saying, “It is a way of paying farmers to do good by the land and what’s happening is wrong. Mistakes can be easily made and then the only one that’s being punished is the farmer.”

Cllr Maeve Reynolds argued that the scheme is not fit for purpose, highlighting that farmers have invested time, labour and money without any certainty about when they will receive their entitlements.

“The Department has missed deadline after deadline and if the shoe was on the other foot, the farmer would be paying penalties,” Cllr Reynolds said.

She proposed an amendment to Cllr Farrell’s motion, suggesting that in addition to demanding payment, the Council should ask whether farmers can be compensated for the loss of purchasing power and the tax implications of receiving three years’ worth of payment in one year, given that the fault lies with the Department.

“At the end of the day farmers are the most important people in this country,” Cllr Sean McGowan added.

Correspondence will be issued to the Department of Agriculture regarding the issue.

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