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In all five models the Department of Agriculture has proposed a payment entitlement limit of €500. In 2018, there were 2,833 farmers with entitlements greater than €500.
The average farm size for this group is 42ha and the average payment is €23,145. The majority of farmers holding these high-value entitlements are beef finishers (35%), followed by tillage farmers (20%). Suckler farmers, dairy farms and mixed farms account for approximately 12% each.
The current national average is €265 (including Greening) and the minimum is €159. Since 2019, a maximum value of €700 has been imposed.
The Commission has proposed all entitlements should reach at least 75% of the national average. This would push the average entitlement value to €204 where eco-schemes have a budget of 20% and €177 where the budget for eco-schemes is 30%.
The European Parliament has proposed that all payments should be fully flattened. This would result in almost all entitlements being valued at €204 by 2026.
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