Applicants who became ineligible for the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) after payment cuts last month still want to proceed with scheme agreements.

In total, 113 wider-level applications fell below the £2,500 minimum scheme agreement threshold as a result of cuts to the water course stabilisation and drinking trough pipework payments.

DAERA said that the ineligible applicants will have “prioritised entry” for the fourth tranche of EFS later this year. However, the water course stabilisation measure, which was the main item that ineligible farmers applied for, will not be available in the next tranche.

They should be let into the fourth tranche with the measures that were available in the third tranche

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, one farmer said that all EFS applicants who fell below the minimum threshold as a result of the cuts should be allowed to proceed with their original applications.

“They should be let into the fourth tranche with the measures that were available in the third tranche. It would mean water course stabilisation is not available for new applicants, but those who missed out through no fault of their own still get to go ahead,” he said.

EFS is funded from the Rural Development Programme with a budget of around £100m.

“If there are slightly over 100 farmers that had agreements worth under £2,500 each, a budget of around £250,000 would solve the problem. It’s not a lot of money in terms of department spending,” the farmer said.

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