ICSA Rural Development chair Tim Farrell has welcomed the announcement from the Department of Agriculture that all valid applications to the ACRES scheme will be accepted. "The ACRES scheme is about achieving all our environmental goals from protecting biodiversity to reaching our climate action targets. It made no sense to deny farmers who are ready and eager to tackle these challenges the opportunity to do so. ICSA made repeated calls for the inclusion of all applicants and today's confirmation that all valid applications will be accepted is indeed welcome."

Mr Farrell said "This move means that there will now be some 46,000 farmers participating the scheme rather than the scheme being capped at 30,000 participants. These numbers illustrate the willingness of Irish farmers to deliver on environmental and climate action goals and gives lie to commentary that farmers are unwilling to adapt or disinterested in the challenges we all face."

Mr Farrell said this announcement also removed the worry many farmers had of losing the money they paid for the application process. "Applying for the scheme cost some farmers over €600 with many fearing this money would be lost if their applications were unsuccessful. It is a relief that farmers will not now be left out of pocket."