It is vital that the full allocation of funding to the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 is used – any savings arising from underspends in some schemes must be put into existing schemes or used to support new schemes, according to IFApPresident Joe Healy.

Healy was commenting on IFA analysis, which predicts an underspend of €106m in the total RDP allocation by the completion of the programme in 2020.

He said that from the analysis of spending to date and projected spending between now and the end of the programme, it is clear that while some schemes will spend most of their allocation, there will inevitably be underspends in other schemes.

“While there have been well-publicised annual underspends in the RDP, the minister has always said that this will be made up by increased spending in the later years of the programme. However, our analysis shows that as we are into the second half of the programme this will not happen and there is a likelihood that there will be a significant underspend,” he said

“With the Government looking at a financial surplus of over €3bn heading into the next budget, the funding for schemes should be increased in 2019,” Healy said.

He added the minister should introduce additional payments for suckler cows in line with the IFA campaign for a payment of €200/suckler cow and should increase ANC funding and widen TAMS to include additional items.

Over €100m underspend by end of RDP – IFA

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All promised scheme funding must be paid to farmers

Calls have been made for the Rural Development Plan underspend to be kept to a minimum.