Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath is insisting that the Department of Agriculture make the interim payments promised on the ACRES scheme by the end of the month. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue gave such a commitment yesterday and confirms that the balancing payment will be made by June. Payments were initially expected to begin in December and Deputy McGrath says the delay in commencing payments on the major new scheme is having a severe financial strain on farmers who are struggling on multiple fronts, from environmental regulations to smaller margins and higher costs.
The interim payments will range for €4,000 to €5,000 per farmer.
Deputy McGrath is calling for a more efficient payments system within the Department that allows for timely payments of all farm payments when they are due saying farmers have already incurred the costs of complying with the scheme which is intended to support biodiversity and farmer incomes.
