513. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive their ACRES payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6538/24]

The persons named were approved into Tranche 1 of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2023.

I can confirm that the ACRES claim for the persons named is progressing through the necessary validation checks, and officials are working to facilitate payment as soon as possible.

I fully appreciate the frustration felt by farmers experiencing payment delays and their concern regarding uncertainty of payments, and I want to reassure you that everything is being done to pay all ACRES applicants as a matter of priority.

However, given that a further period of time is required to complete this work, I have taken action to issue an interim, nationally funded payment, to farmers affected across ACRES General and Co-operation.