Minister Heydon announces nearly €147 million in payments to almost 34,000 ACRES farmers

Making the announcement, Minister Heydon said: “I am happy to confirm that advance payments to participants in ACRES in respect of 2025 have commenced, with €146.94 million being paid this week to 33,794 farmers who entered ACRES in 2023. I anticipate that a further 8,000 farmers who joined ACRES in 2024 will receive €32.69 million next week. The issuing of 2025 advance payments to 42,000 farmers, or 78% of all ACRES participants, in these first pay runs is evidence of the work done over the last year to improve the timeliness of ACRES payments. The processing of contracts for the remaining participants is continuing.”

Referring to the Scheme in general, the Minister added: “These payments will bring the amount paid in respect of ACRES since its commencement in 2023 to approximately €697 million. This reflects the Government’s commitment to achieving a range of environmental, biodiversity, water quality and climate objectives by supporting farm families in their environmental journey. ACRES is an ambitious scheme and there have been challenges presented by Ireland’s level of ambition. It is clear that we are overcoming those challenges through the commitment of all those involved in the scheme - farmers themselves, ACRES advisors and the ACRES Co-operation Project Teams.”

The Minister concluded by saying: “I want to maintain the current momentum in ACRES, and a key contributor to the issuing of payments is the submission of returns by the participants. I encourage anyone who has not sent in their ACRES LESS declaration for 2025 to do so as soon as possible, and I also encourage farmers undertaking the Conservation of Rare Breeds action to send in their returns by 15 November 2025. The timely submission of these helps the Department to progress those contracts for payment.”