Some 58% of farmers would be better off with 100% convergence, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has said.

This percentage equates to 71,253 farmers in total who would be better off with a 100% convergence option rather than the 85% convergence option.

Leitrim will benefit the most, with over 85% of farmers in the county being better off. Donegal is next with 80%, followed closely by Sligo with 76%.

Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Laois are the counties that will benefit the least, with under 40% of farmers in these areas benefiting.

*The data is a Year 1 comparison only (2023) with BISS Capped.

This data was revealed following a parliamentary question posed by Michael Healy-Rae who asked the minister the number and percentage of farmers in each county that will be better off with a 100% convergence option versus the 85% convergence option being proposed by him under the new CAP.

Minister McConalogue said that all EU countries will have to reach a minimum convergence level of 85% by 2026, in response to the question.

“Convergence will be a mandatory provision in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) commencing in 2023. Member states are required to ensure that, by 2026, all payment entitlements reach a minimum convergence level of 85%, creating a more levelled distribution of payments,” he said.