Answering a question by Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesman Charlie McConalogue Minister Creed said negotiations on the details of the €25m scheme are under way with the European Commission. He hopes for approval in late 2016 or early 2017, with a view to payments beginning at the earliest date thereafter.

The necessity for a top-up will not arise as there will be hill and lowland appropriate measures

Answering Deputy McConalogue's question on a potential additional payment for hill farmers, Minister Creed was clear to point out that there would be no top-ups to the scheme's "across the board payment". “We are aiming to achieve a menu of options to reflect the various management structures on individual farms. There will be no added costs in the suite of options available. The necessity for a top-up will not arise as there will be hill and lowland appropriate measures.”

Macra had also sought a top-up for young farmers under the scheme.

The reference to "no added costs" seems to rule out blanket EID tagging, a controversial suggested measure under the scheme.

Deputy McConalogue urged the Minister to ensure the same "mistakes" made with the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) are not repeated with this scheme.

Minister Creed dismissed this claim, saying that more farmers are now asking for the BDGP to re-open so that they can join.