There are concerns that if the new seven-year CAP programme is not finalised in time for 2021 that any resulting roll over could prolong some farmers exclusion from agri-environmental schemes.

Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said a roll over would be required if the delay in finalising the next policy continued. However, he was equally concerned that a roll over would continue to exclude farmers whose contracts had expired under existing schemes.

I am very conscious that those concerned are currently without a support scheme

Some 2,100 farmers completed their Agri-Environmental Options Scheme (AEOS) contracts in 2018, which was the final year for the scheme. The scheme provided a payment up to €5,000/year and these farmers are currently without a scheme as GLAS 3 is fully subscribed.

Minister Creed said CAP negotiations needed to be concluded at the earliest date possible to prevent the situation arising again where farmers in REPS and AEOS did not switch over to GLAS when their contracts expired.

“I am very conscious that those concerned are currently without a support scheme, and they are not insignificant in number,” he said.

Roll over

The Commission has not yet indicated if there are provisions in place for a roll over. Minister Creed said it was likely the Commission wanted to keep the pressure on to conclude the negotiation.

“We are now in a situation where this Commission is going out the door, there is a new Parliament and there will be a new committee on agriculture and rural development,” the Minister said.

“It remains to be seen whether it will feel hidebound by the deliberations of the previous committee or whether it will look at it afresh.”

He said the optimum solution was to have a new CAP in place as earlier as possible but the need for a roll over would be raised in the event of a delay.

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