2661. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to ensure that farmers participating in ACRES in County Galway receive any outstanding payments without further delay; the number of participants awaiting payment in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59097/26]

The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES, is the flagship environmental scheme provided under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, with €1.5 billion in Exchequer and EU funding allocated over the course of the scheme. Over €787m has issued in core payments since the commencement of the scheme.

My Department has fully paid almost 100% of all participants in ACRES in respect of their participation in the Scheme in relation to 2023 and 2024, while over 97% of the participants are now also fully paid up to date in respect of 2025. Payments have not issued in respect of some of the remaining contracts as the legalities following death of the contract holder have not been finalised to date, while delays in other cases may be due to non-receipt of documentation that is required for the calculation of the payment.

Currently in County Galway there are 192 scheme participants awaiting payment. Of these, 35 relate to the 2024 scheme year, while the remaining 157 pertain to 2025.

I would like to assure the Deputy that payments will continue to issue on a regular basis as cases pass the required validation checks.