Around 3,500 so-called “forgotten farmers” who missed out on missed out on installation grants, young farmer top-ups and other schemes in the last CAP, are to receive a once-off payment of up to €5,000 from the Government, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.

Forgotten farmers will also get access to the 60% grant aid rate in TAMS and be eligible to apply to the National Reserve in the next CAP.

The maximum €5,000 once-off grant is set to be funded by the Exchequer because it cannot be paid through the next CAP under EU rules.

Minister McConalogue has long promised to address the losses caused to the forgotten farmers.

Support

Last month, the minister told an INHFA meeting in Donegal that he was examining the CAP and national Exchequer funding to support the group.

The forgotten farmers are a category of farmer that genuinely missed out on previous CAPs

A spokesperson for the minister would neither confirm nor deny detail of the package but said the minister has long committed himself to supporting the forgotten farmers group as part of the next CAP, as well through Exchequer funding.

“The forgotten farmers are a category of farmer that genuinely missed out on previous CAPs and the minister has been committed to supporting them,” they said.