Over €2.2 Million for Waterford Farmers in Eco-Scheme balancing payments

Waterford Minister John Cummins has welcomed this morning’s announcement of over €2.2 Million for Waterford in balancing payments for the 2025 Eco-Scheme. The news was confirmed by his Fine Gael colleague Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD.

The commencement of the Eco-Scheme balancing payments will bring the total paid under the 2025 Eco-Scheme since October to almost €288 million with 112,610 farmers now in receipt of an Eco-scheme payment. From today, almost €86 million will issue to farmers in the form of an Eco-Scheme balancing payment.

Speaking on the announcement Minister Cummins said: “It is very welcome news that balancing payments under the Eco-Scheme worth €2,289,458 will commence today for Waterford Farmers. Payments should be visible in farmers’ bank accounts in the coming days, and Minister Heydon has ensured me that his department will continue to process, as a matter of urgency, all remaining cases for payment as they meet scheme criteria.”

Farmers with outstanding requests for documentation from the department are being urged to return them to allow payments to issue.

Minister Heydon said: “I am delighted to confirm that balancing payments under the Eco-Scheme worth €85.8 million has commenced today. The aim of Ireland’s Eco-Scheme is to reward farmers for undertaking actions beneficial to the climate, environment, water quality and biodiversity. Eco-Scheme payments are a vital support for farmers who will have incurred costs or foregone income to meet scheme requirements.

“My department is fully committed to ensuring that all scheme payments continue to issue in the most efficient way possible and to ensure that these vital supports are delivered to farmers in a timely manner.”