Irish farmers are set to receive a €750m cash boost next month. The European Commission is set to announce that an enhanced advance payment will be made to farmers from 16 October. Normally, a maximum payment of 50% is allowed, but in exceptional circumstances a further 20% can be advanced.

This means that the first instalment of the new Basic Payment Scheme and greening payments to Irish farmers will be boosted by €200m, and will total over €700m. It will come as a welcome boost, particularly to the dairy and tillage sectors, which are suffering very poor prices for their produce.

European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan is expected to announce the enhanced advance on Monday, when a huge farmer protest will greet the Council of Agricultural Ministers meeting in Brussels. Both Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney and the IFA have called for the 70% advance payment to be made.