One in three Wicklow farmers still waiting on ACRES payments
ACRES is Ireland's agri-environment climate scheme under Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan. This €1.5 billion flagship agri-environment scheme is a farmer-friendly scheme to help address biodiversity decline while delivering an income support for farm families in Ireland.
Deputy Whitmore, the Social Democrats spokesperson on agriculture, said: 'According to the latest figures, 62 farmers in Wicklow have yet to receive their advance payment, and 191 are still waiting on any payments. That's nearly one in three participants left in limbo.
'These payments are vital for farmers who are actively working to improve biodiversity and environmental outcomes on their land. Many have already invested time and money into these measures, and the department's failure to deliver payments on time is completely unacceptable.
'Farmers need certainty. If the government wants to encourage participation in schemes like ACRES, it must ensure that payments are made promptly and fairly. Delays like this undermine trust and place unnecessary financial pressure on farming families. I am calling on the Minister for Agriculture to urgently address the backlog and ensure that all outstanding payments are processed without further delay.'
At a meeting of the Select Committee on Agriculture and Food held last week, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon acknowledged the significant payment delays experienced with ACRES. More than €500 million has been paid out to Irish farmers since 2023 through ACRES, but a 'dark cloud hangs over it because not every farmer was paid', the minister said, though he expected 'considerable progress' to take place over coming weeks to drive the number of outstanding payments down further.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
The three-bedroom Dublin penthouse apartment with stunning terrace and mountain views on the market for €595,000
A STUNNING three-bedroom duplex penthouse apartment has just hit the Irish market for €595,000 – and it boasts a terrace with panoramic views of the Dublin Mountains. This exceptional home is located in The Ramparts, 6 This stunning penthouse is located in The Ramparts, Cabinteeley Credit: Estate Agents Collect 6 And it is now on the Irish market for €595,000 Credit: Estate Agents Collect 6 It features luxurious and bright interiors throughout Credit: Estate Agents Collect 6 The pad comes with views overlooking the Dublin mountains Credit: Estate Agents Collect Apartment 82 is located in The Ramparts in Cabinteely, a sought-after development tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac just off the N11. Spanning the fourth and fifth floors, the bright and spacious apartment extends to an impressive 134 square metres. The house listing reads: 'Exceptional three bedroom dual aspect duplex penthouse apartment with a stylish interior and a stunning south west facing terrace." The READ MORE IN MONEY There are three stunning bedrooms, two of which feature luxurious ensuites and the third which could be transformed into a home office or a study space. A south-west facing orientation means the apartment is flooded with natural light throughout the day, with incredible sunset views over the Dublin STUNNING LIVING SPACE Guests step into a welcoming entrance hall with a tiled floor and a built-in storage room for convenience. Off the hall is a breathtaking fully tiled family bathroom fitted with sleek modern sanitary ware. MOST READ IN MONEY The open-plan living and dining space has wooden floors, high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto the breathtaking terrace. Ideal for Inside three bed family home on Irish market for €170k on 'generous site,' in 'desirable location' Up next, a separate kitchen sits just off the dining area, featuring a tiled floor generous counter space and ample fitted units. The master bedroom is a luxurious space with wooden floors, a walk-in wardrobe and a large window overlooking the manicured communal It also feature an ensuite bathroom is that is stylishly finished with mosaic tiling and quality fittings. LUXURIOUS PAD The second bedroom features wooden flooring, built-in sliderobes and another modern tiled ensuite. Upstairs, the third bedroom is a bright, flexible space that could be used as a guest room, creative studio or an office. Residents of The Ramparts have two designated underground parking spaces, a lift servicing all floors and well-maintained communal areas. The apartment is also situated near lots of amenities in both Cabinteely and Cherrywood - including cafes, Cabinteely Park is just minutes away, while Killiney Beach can be reached in ten minutes by car. What's more, the area is well-connected by This property is listed by Brock DeLappe estate agents, and open viewings are scheduled for Saturday, June 28 from 11:00–11:30am and Monday, June 30 from 1:00–1:30pm. Viewings can also be arranged by contacting the agent directly. 6 The property is a three bedroom pad Credit: Estate Agents Collect 6 It comes with a breathtaking terrace Credit: Estate Agents Collect
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
AgNav launches tillage enterprise at Oak Park open day
AgNav has now added tillage enterprises to its online digital platform. The new tillage capabilities on the platform were launched by minister for agriculture Martin Heydon at the Crops and Technology Open Day in Teagasc Oak Park on June 25. AgNav supports farmers in identifying mitigation strategies for their farms to deliver on climate action. With the addition of tillage it will allow tillage farmers to calculate the carbon footprint of their crops, marking a significant advancement in sustainability tools for Irish tillage farmers. AgNav was originally developed as a collaboration between Teagasc, Bord Bia and ICBF (Irish Cattle Breeding Federation) as a platform designed to help farmers measure and manage the environmental impact of their operations. With the addition of tillage, this will enable farmers to calculate the carbon footprint of their crops using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model specifically tailored for Ireland. Teagasc collaborated with Tirlán to develop the LCA model specifically for an Irish tillage farming system. Teagasc's tillage LCA model follows global standards, evaluating the carbon footprint of native grains, from cradle to farm-gate. Hence, the scope of the model extends from the acquisition of raw materials, through to the harvesting of crops. It also utilises national information on agricultural emissions and carbon capture and retention (sequestration) to determine carbon footprint as CO2 emissions per tonne of grain produced. Speaking at the open day, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon, said: The tillage sector has a major role to play in achieving Ireland's climate targets. I welcome this new development in AgNav, which allows farmers to understand their emissions profile and to identify ways of making further sustainability improvements at farm level. John Spink, Head of the Crops, Environment and Land use Programme in Teagasc, said: 'This is an important development for growers and for the tillage sector. Farmers will be able to sign up and get a demonstration of how to use the system. I would encourage all growers to register and use AgNav so that we can get a good view of the carbon footprint of Irish tillage crops.' Dr Siobhán Jordan, Head of Teagasc Technology Transfer office, said: 'Teagasc, and its partners ICBF and Bord Bia, are committed to the ongoing development of the AgNav tool, and plans are in place to include other farming enterprises in the years ahead. (Left to right) John Spink, Teagasc; Professor Frank O'Mara, Teagasc Director; Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon; Dr Jack Kennedy, editor of the Irish Farmers Journal and Liam Woulfe, Teagasc Authority at the official opening of the Crops and Technology Open Day in Teagasc Oak Park. Picture: Dylan Vaughan "It facilitates informed decision-making by farmers to identify the actions for their own individual farms that will have the greatest impact in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and capturing carbon.' The 'Crops and Technology' Open Day in Oak Park was organised in conjunction with the Irish Farmers Journal. The open day covered the latest research on all main tillage crops and horticulture field crops, and a major machinery demonstration with particular focus on sprayers and the technology available for more accurate applications. Read More Government sets out next phase of agriculture emission target plans
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Revenue detector dog uncovers €6.25m worth of smuggled cigarettes at Dublin Port
Millions of illegal cigarettesworth over €6 million were seized by Revenue Officers at an Irish port earlier this week. On Tuesday, Revenue Officers seized 6.9 million cigarettes at Dublin Port when officers examined an unaccompanied container arriving from Rotterdam. The seizure was made as a result of routine profiling and with the assistance of Revenue's mobile x-ray scanner and Revenue's detector dog Milo. The cigarettes were seized under Section 141 of the Finance Act 2001. The smuggled cigarettes, branded 'Marlboro', have an estimated value of €6.25 million, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of €4.9 million. A Revenue spokesperson said investigations are ongoing. "This seizure is part of Revenue's ongoing operations targeting the shadow economy and the supply and sale of illegal tobacco products," the Revenue spokesperson added. "If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295 295." Last month, Revenue seized 3.7 million cigarettes stashed in a consignment of PVC windows and doors at Dublin Port over the weekend. Revenue officers made the discovery on Saturday, May 3, as a result of risk profiling, and with the assistance of Revenue's mobile x-ray scanner. The cigarettes, branded Benson and Hedges, have an estimated value of €3.3 million, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of €2.6 million. The contraband was discovered in a consignment of PVC windows and doors, following the search of a trailer that arrived on a vessel from Rotterdam. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
