Department is asked to suspend ACRES payment recovery

Independent Ireland Councillor, Noel Thomas said that he had been contacted by several farmers who said that they have found mistakes in their habitat scores.

“The Department of Agriculture should suspend the recovery process [for overpayments] they have started until such time as they have conducted reviews of those farms where there are discrepancies,” he said.

Cllr. Thomas added that while up to 95% of farmers in the ACRES scheme were due to be paid by the end of this month, there were issues with the scheme where land wasn’t properly assessed.

“This is causing difficulties for farm families who have reinvested the payment back into the farm. This year has been a particularly challenging one for farmers due to weather and costs,” said Cllr. Thomas.

He said that many farmers were now finding themselves dealing with more and more paperwork issues associated with the ACRES scheme rather than carrying their everyday farming duties.

“I am calling on the Department to pay farmers the balance of what they are owed and to suspend the recovery process [for overpayments] as what farmers need now is support and stability,” said Cllr. Thomas.

IFA National Rural Development Chair, John Curran, said that ‘delayed/recouped’ ACRES payments have compounded cashflow pressure on many farms, particularly hill farms and those in SAC areas.

“The Department need to deliver on their commitments that maximum flexibility will apply to farmers needing to recoup some/all of interim payments received, and that at least 95% of outstanding balancing ACRES payments will be paid out by end-September,” said John Curran.

Pictured: Cllr. Noel Thomas: 'Suspend overpayments’ recovery process'.