Ireland’s CAP plan for farm payments from 2023 to 2027 has been approved by the Cabinet and will now go to Brussels for the green light.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue held firm on his initial proposal of a 25% ringfencing of all payments for eco schemes, 10% front-loading of payments up to 30ha under CRISS, and 85% convergence.

Those decisions, broadly seen to benefit smaller farms with lower entitlements at the expense of larger and generally more full-time farms, highlighted the divisions between different farm organisations in recent months.

Minister McConalogue’s plan totals €9.8bn in funding for almost 130,000 farm families

The only ground the minister conceded was on broadening the number and accessibility of eco-scheme measures, with the aim of allowing more farmers to reclaim some of their direct payments.

Minister McConalogue’s plan totals €9.8bn in funding for almost 130,000 farm families, with the Irish Exchequer accounting for €2.3bn.

Now, the European Commission will assess Ireland’s plan and it has six months to approve it, including accepting any necessary revisions, before it will become legislation from 1 January 2023.