Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 February 2024
240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which farm supports contain new money or a replacement for previous schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8609/24]
View answerThis information was supplied to the Deputy in August 2023 in response to a similar question. Farm supports are still being provided through the CAP Strategic Plan (2023 - 2027) (CSP) and as there has been no significant changes to the CSP since that time the information has not materially changed. The comparisons between the budgetary allocations for the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) and the Rural Development Programme (RDP) which preceded it as set out as follows:
The CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027 provides funding of €9.8bn over the five years, of which €7.5bn is EU funding and €2.3bn is national funding to co-fund rural development measures.
This EU funding is split between Pillar I (Direct Payments and Sectoral Interventions - €5.97 billion) and Pillar II (Rural Development - €1.56 billion). This plan is for a shorter duration due to the transitional period, but on a five-year comparison, the financial allocation under Pillar II of the CSP is €600 million higher than the €3.26 billion initially allocated for the final five years, 2016-2020, of the previous Rural Development Programme, and more than €900 million higher than the actual spend over that period. A total of €5.34 billion is allocated for Pillar II for the period 2021-2027, which is €1.2 billion (30%) higher than for the 2014-2020 period.
In relation to individual schemes, there is a significant change in approach under Pillar 1 - Direct Payments, in particular, the introduction of two new interventions, Eco-schemes and Complementary Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS). There is also increased support for young farmers through the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers replacing the Young farmer scheme.
Regarding Pillar 2 Rural Development interventions, there has been a significant change in approach and a large increase in funding, with €1.5bn provided for the new flagship Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), replacing GLAS. It will pay higher rates to up to 50,000 farmers and encompasses an innovative landscape approach through the co-operation element.
In addition, the budget allocation and payment rates per hectare has increased for a number of schemes to support achievement of our climate and environment targets, notably, the organic farming with a five fold increase in the budget to €256m. For livestock, the Sheep Improvement Scheme replaces the Sheep Welfare Scheme with the payment rate increased from €10 to €12 per ewe.
