Over 99% of farmers got under €60,000 in BPS payments including greening last year, according to Department of Agriculture figures released to Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesperson Charlie McConalogue. Over two-thirds received less than €10,000.
European Commission proposals would allow a limit on direct payments between €60,000 and €100,000 in the next CAP, with options for tiered payments between these two amounts and deductions for farm workers’ salaries.
Deputy McConalogue said the figures supported Fianna Fáil’s policy of applying the lower €60,000 limit in Ireland, cutting payments to 877 farmers.
“A new ceiling at this level would provide a €74m pot annually (€517m over a seven-year CAP programme) to target supports to vulnerable sectors and strengthen measures for generational renewal,” he said.
The ICSA and INHFA favour a strict €60,000 limit. The IFA’s positions is that there should be no cuts in direct payments to “genuine farmers”.
The figures are in line with recent analysis of 2017 figures by the Irish Farmers Journal, which found that around 1,000 farmers would be affected by a €60,000 limit.
Department officials told the Oireachtas recently that they were in favour of a limit on payments, but warned that deducting salaries would create “administrative complexity”.
Read more
BPS 2019 opens for applications
€100,000 direct payment cap would cut payments by €6.6m
‘CAP payments can’t be used to fund Sheikhs and oil barons’ – Healy
CAP limits would free up €10.5m for smaller farms
Over 99% of farmers got under €60,000 in BPS payments including greening last year, according to Department of Agriculture figures released to Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesperson Charlie McConalogue. Over two-thirds received less than €10,000.
European Commission proposals would allow a limit on direct payments between €60,000 and €100,000 in the next CAP, with options for tiered payments between these two amounts and deductions for farm workers’ salaries.
Deputy McConalogue said the figures supported Fianna Fáil’s policy of applying the lower €60,000 limit in Ireland, cutting payments to 877 farmers.
“A new ceiling at this level would provide a €74m pot annually (€517m over a seven-year CAP programme) to target supports to vulnerable sectors and strengthen measures for generational renewal,” he said.
The ICSA and INHFA favour a strict €60,000 limit. The IFA’s positions is that there should be no cuts in direct payments to “genuine farmers”.
The figures are in line with recent analysis of 2017 figures by the Irish Farmers Journal, which found that around 1,000 farmers would be affected by a €60,000 limit.
Department officials told the Oireachtas recently that they were in favour of a limit on payments, but warned that deducting salaries would create “administrative complexity”.
Read more
BPS 2019 opens for applications
€100,000 direct payment cap would cut payments by €6.6m
‘CAP payments can’t be used to fund Sheikhs and oil barons’ – Healy
CAP limits would free up €10.5m for smaller farms
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