The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) is urgently seeking a meeting with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, to rectify delays in farmers’ ACRES payments.

Pheilim Molloy, National Chair of the INHFA, has expressed deep outrage on behalf of farmers currently awaiting balancing payment for year one of the Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) who will have to continue to wait until next year.

Mr Molloy said this situation is “unacceptable and undermines the financial stability of farmers who rely on these payments”.

Earlier this year, farmers received an advance payment of €5,000, pending the finalisation of their payment scorecards, which were expected to be released by October 2024.

According to the farm association, the department has informed 4,000 farmers, some of whom had been expecting balancing payments over recent months, that their payment for 2023 would now be delayed until 2025.

Furthermore, the department has indicated that no payments for scheme actions in 2024 will be issued until the 2023 payments are dealt with, the INHFA said.

“The farmers in this position are not only left in limbo without payment they also face the possibility of a heavy tax payback in 2025 where they could end up with three ACRES payments,” said Mr Molloy.

Mr Molloy stressed that while the hold up in the balancing payment “is shocking”, the situation “is an absolute disgrace and must be addressed”.

“Many farmers have been left in the dark regarding their eligibility for a top-up payment or repayment, and ongoing delays in scorecard distribution have only heightened their frustrations,” said Mr Molloy.

In addition to the failures around the balancing payments, the INHFA have also been contacted by farmers that haven’t yet received any ACRES payment.

“We cannot allow farmers to bear the brunt of DAFM administrative failures,” said Mr Molloy. “The livelihoods of our farmers depend on timely payments, and it is totally unacceptable they face this financial uncertainty.”

Pictured: Pheilim Molloy: the situation is unacceptable.