Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed intends to raise agricultural state aid to a maximum limit of €20,000 for farmers from the end of December this year.

It marks an increase from the €15,000 currently available to farmers, but still below the maximum €25,000 offered by the European Commission to Member States.

The information came to light in response to a parliamentary question asked by the Fianna Fáil spokesperson for agriculture, Charlie McConalogue.

€20,000 combined with an increased national cap of 1.25 to be most appropriate for Ireland

“I considered that an option of an increased threshold of €20,000 combined with an increased national cap of 1.25 to be most appropriate for Ireland,” Minister Creed stated in answer to the parliamentary question on the subject.

State aid is currently available in the form of de minimus funding and can currently be drawn down at a maximum rate of €15,000 per farmer over a three-year period.

Member States do not have to notify the Commission to make use of de minimus funding, and it has been used at various stages in Ireland, including to fund the Fodder Transport Scheme earlier this year.

European summer drought

European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has expressed his keenness to increase state aid available to Member States after the harsh summer drought period.

Minister Creed’s intent to raise amount an individual farmer can receive will be welcomed, though some farmers will have hoped the amount would have reached the maximum €25,000 that was offered.

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