The application system for farmers participating in the Agri-Climate Rural environment Scheme (ACRES) co-operation approach to apply for non- productive investments (NPIs) opened on 1 July 2026. Co-operation farmers who entered ACRES co-operation in tranche I (from 1 January 2023) should note that this is the final opportunity that they will have to avail of NPIs, as contracts will finish on 31 December 2027.

Tranche II participants will likely have further opportunities to apply.

The closing date for approved ACRES advisers to submit applications on their client’s behalf is Wednesday, 14 October 2026.

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Eligible participants

NPIs are only available to participants in the ACRES co-operation stream. Participants have a potential budget of €17,500 for NPIs/landscape actions/landscape bonus over the lifetime of their contracts. This averages out at €3,500/annum and this is where the figure stems from with regard to participants drawing down a maximum payment of €10,500/annum (€7,000 core payment and up to €3,500 NPI/LA payment).

However, any participant who does not claim the full ACRES CP core payment of €7,000 will have any unclaimed amount added to their NPI budget. Applications, in the form of NPI Annual Work plans, are prepared and submitted by ACRES advisers on behalf of their clients.

The Department is advising farmers who may be having their lands scored under results-based payments to consider if NPIs are an option.

The NPI category list and specifications are published on the Department’s website at gov - Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) (www.gov.ie) which also has further information about where the relevant investments may be located, the amount of funding available and the associated payment rate.

There are three main categories of proposed NPIs to be made available to ACRES Co-operation participants.

  • Section 1 NPI Habitat and Wildlife Support.
  • Section 2 NPI Infrastructure.
  • Section 3 NPI Scrub/Track (Burren/Aran CP Zone only).

    • Updated specifications

    A circular released by the Department also highlighted the publication of an updated version - version 2.2)of the specifications relating to the implementation of NPIs. This latest version, which can be found on the Department’s website, replaces the Non-Productive Investments Specification Version 2.1 of July 2025.

    The Department advises: “ACRES Co-operation participants, for whom Non-Productive Investments have been approved, must adhere to the requirements set out in this revised ACRES Co-operation Non-Productive Investments Specification document Version 2.2 of July 2026.”

    The Non-Productive Investments, for which the specification has been revised, and the nature of the revision, are listed in the table for information.