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The flattening of farm payments has been paused for the next 12 months, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has confirmed.
The process of convergence has seen some €93m transferred from one set of farmers to another since 2015.
Those with entitlements above the national average have been cut, while those below it have gained.
The process reached its conclusion in 2019 and it has since been at the discretion of member states to continue flattening payments. Ireland has again chosen not to further converge payments this year.
Stability
Confirming the decision, Minister McConalogue said: “In order to provide for stability, some certainty for farmers and consultation on CAP measures, Ireland chose to rest convergence during the years 2020 and 2021.”
In response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy, the Minister acknowledged there were “differing views” among farmers around convergence.
He said that he was reflecting on the approach that should be adopted and that he would continue to engage with the relevant stakeholder organisations.
While paused for now, convergence is likely to resume in 2023 when the new CAP begins.
The draft legislative files that are due to be finalised this summer state all entitlements must reach at least 75% of the national average.
All entitlements reached a minimum 60% at the end of 2019.
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