Deputy Whitmore welcomes interim ACRES payments

DEPUTY Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed the news that interim ACRES payments are being provided for farmers, following the recent announcement from the Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, regarding interim payments of €4,000 to participants in ACRES General and €5,000 to those in the Co-operation Project stream.

Now, Deputy Whitmore is calling for a clear and fixed timeline for the next tranche of payments, so that a similar situation can be avoided next year.

“I welcome the news that the interim payments have been issued. In response to a parliamentary question I put down the Minister for Agriculture confirmed that the interim payments intend to be progressed by the end of this month,” she said.

“I raised this issue directly with the Minister for Agriculture in late January on the floor of the Dáil, as there were 335 Wicklow farmers awaiting ACRES and ACRES Co-operation payments. Unfortunately, so many farms had been left in the lurch when it came to paying ACRES support.”

Deputy Whitmore is also concerned that similar issues could arise again next year.

“The uncertainty seen around these payments cannot be allowed to be repeated next year. When I asked him about it again in January, he said that payments would be made in February and completed by March. Then, a few days later, he announced an interim payment would be brought in.

“For the scheme to continue to grow and succeed, we need to see farmers participating in greater numbers. Farmers need certainty when it comes to planning their financial year. I hope that in the future, this won’t be an issue we have to grapple with again, and I will be keeping a close eye on this matter in the months ahead.”