Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
1106. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that six out of eight of the current farming for nature award nominees are not eligible for CAP payments despite being full-time farmers (details supplied); and the measures being proposed in the new CAP to address the matter. [10385/21]
View answerPayments are made to farmers under CAP via two streams - Pillar I and Pillar II.
Regulation No. 1307 of 2013 defines that direct payments must be area-based payments and, in Ireland, is based on the number of Basic Payment entitlements held by a farmer with each payment entitlement supported by a hectare of land – linking the area farmed to the amount of supports.
Since 2015, new entrants to farming can apply to the National Reserve for an allocation of payment entitlements without already having entitlements. The minimum payment under BPS is €100, so once a farmer has a payment entitlement value exceeding this amount (e.g. from a fraction of an entitlement), they can receive payment under BPS. If they hold entitlements, they can apply for a permanent increase to the value of these payment entitlements, if they are below the national average. Payment entitlements can also be traded between farmers to enable them to adjust their farming businesses and to facilitate entry to direct payments.
There are also several measures available under CAP Pillar II. The Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme aims to provide direct financial support to farmers who farm land in areas which have been designated as constrained. The minimum eligible area that can be applied for under ANC is three hectares. The scheme as an allocation of €250m annually, and payments issue to some 100,000 farmers each year nationally. The stated objectives of the scheme include maintaining the countryside and maintaining and promoting sustainable farming systems which take account of environmental protection requirements. Eligibility for this scheme does not require applicants to hold BPS entitlements.
New entrants may also avail of measures such as TAMs and the new results-based agri-environmental pilot. The Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme offers an attractive suite of options to suit most land types and owners. Agro-forestry provides financial support to grow trees on land being used for farming. Forestry-for-fibre allows landowners to plant fast growing trees suitable for a range of purposes, including wood panel and fuel production. The Department will shortly be preparing the next Forestry Programme, which will be open for public consultation at the appropriate time.
The new CAP programme proposes a higher level of environmental ambition – and will dedicate a significant sum of direct payments to eco-schemes promoting farming practices which are beneficial to the environment and go beyond standard conditionality. These will be complementary to the programme of supports under the rural development programme for the new CAP.
My Department has already held consultations on the new CAP, is currently inviting submissions on the draft scoping report for the Environmental Assessment of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and will hold more public consultations later this year. I welcome submission of proposals for inclusion from all parties at gov.ie - Public Consultation on draft Scoping Report for the Environmental Assessment of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (www.gov.ie)
