Delays in ACRE payment will "seriously impact" Leitrim farmers

A Leitrim County Councillor has spoken out after it was announced that thousands of farmers in ACRES could be waiting until March before they receive payments under the scheme, which were due to be paid last month after the Department of Agriculture met with farming organisations this week to clarify the situation 

in a statement to the Leitrim Observer, Cllr Padraig Fallon said: "The acres payment delay, particularly impacting farmers in Co-operation Zones, is unacceptable. Farmers have complied with the stipulations set by the department, even under threats of removal from the scheme if deadlines were not met. One advisor tells ,'of our clients I’d say 90% easily in north Leitrim and all Leitrim I’d say 75%.' Another looking at their client list thinks a little less but similar."

Mr Fallon noted that yesterday Minister Charlie McConalogue confirmed that while applicants to ACRES General would be paid before Christmas, farmers who applied for ACRES Co-operation would have to wait until February 2024 to receive scheme payments.

"This is simply unacceptable," he said.

He added: "I’m led to believe Leitrim has exactly two thirds that are Co-operation (67.76%). Only one county has a higher proportion (Kerry 72.8%). Donegal is next at almost 59%.The delay in payment will seriously impact farmers and communities in Leitrim." 

The Department announced in October that payments under the ACRES scheme were due in November and just days ago the Department announced that the final BISS and CRISS payments were being finalised.