The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 20 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Energy From Farms

Intended results IFA Propose • The introduction of a min 50% capital grant for development of farmer owned farm scale biogas plants - financed through Infrastructure and Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF) and or/feed in tariff. • Immediate introduction of Renewable Heat Obligation (RH0). • Introduction of renewable energy finance scheme that provides state-supported low-cost finance. • Establish a dedicated farmer category within the Small- Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS). • Budget is maintained and enhanced over in the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat [SSRH). • Capital Gain Tax (CAT)/ Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) reliefs for solar panels should also include wind farms. • Maintain all existing taxation reliefs and exemptions for farmers involved in AD and any other renewable activities. • Solar- incentive/allow farmers to install systems beyond their own usage and export surplus electricity to the grid. These proposals focus on making schemes workable for farmers, ensuring fair supports, and investing in the infrastructure needed to make farm-based renewable energy a success To propose • The introduction of a minimum 50% capital grant for the development of farmer owned and operated farm scale biogas plants with finance to be provided through the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF) IFA propose • Establishment of a dedicated farmer category within SRESS to reflect the distinct constraints faced by the agricultural sector and increase the level of feed-in tariffs to make farm-based projects financially viable and attractive. • Increase in SRESS fixed tariff rates for wind and solar as they are insufficient to support any meaningful uptake • Establishment of a higher SRESS fixed tariff rate for anaerobic digestion and biomass projects reflecting the much higher cost of production for this form of renewable energy • Simplify the application and approval process, reducing administrative hurdles and making the scheme more accessible to farmers. • Provide targeted technical support and advisory services to help farmers manage planning, regulatory, and operational aspects of project development. • Review and adjust the community benefit fund requirement to ensure it is proportionate and does not undermine project viability. IFA propose • Substantial investment into the national electricity network to ensure the national grid is fit for purpose. With the added complexity of two-way energy travel at more grid connection points in recent and future years, along with increasing demand from Ireland's growing population, required upgrades must be fully funded and implemented, when and where needed. Poor electricity network infrastructure cannot be a barrier for the onfarm renewable energy sector to continue to develop. Strategic investment is essential to ensure farmers are not excluded due to inadequate local grid capacity. • Applications for connection to the national electricity grid are currently charged a non-refundable payment of €1000. This charge needs to be terminated, and farmers who have paid this fee refunded. • Streamline current regulations to support the development of AD plants, in particular farm-scale AD plants, with statutory timelines imposed on planning, regulatory and licensing authorities. National guidelines are required so all local authorities can assess possible AD projects under the same criteria. • A fundamental overhaul of the national gas grid to develop a network that can accommodate multiple small-scale injection points and support reverse gas flows. Current injection points should be operational on a 24-hour basis. • Clear and consistent planning guidelines - planning requirements for renewable projects can vary widely between counties, creating uncertainty for farmers. Nationally consistent guidelines should be developed to support small-scale and on-farm projects and ensure fair and transparent treatment across all local authorities. – national guidelines – work into above. Where they don't exist develop and where they do, they're to be updated. • A single, farmer-focused point of contact is essential to help navigate the regulatory, financial, and technical requirements for renewable energy development. • Improving public and political awareness - renewable energy projects can face resistance due to limited community understanding or perceived lack of benefit. Greater transparency, public engagement, and models for shared community gain will help foster support, especially in rural areas where these projects are often located. • The National Biomethane Strategy set out to develop a communications strategy by Q3 2024. To our knowledge this action has not been carried out and should be acted upon immediately. IFA propose • The current cap on grant aid based on on-farm energy usage should be removed. Many farms with low electricity consumption have large shed space ideal for solar installations. Allowing these farmers to install systems beyond their own usage and export surplus electricity to the grid would transform them into net energy producers and improve the return on renewable investments. • Farmers who receive grant aid (including TAMS) to support the installation of renewable energy sources should be allowed to sell any surplus electricity generated after domestic/business. This limitation disincentivises larger-scale installations. Farmers should be allowed to export and sell 100% of their surplus electricity, which would significantly improve the commercial feasibility of renewable projects. • Farmers who generate surplus electricity should be allowed export it onto the national grid via smart meter and permitted to offset any energy exported against energy used with no financial transaction necessary. IFA propose • The budget for this programme is maintained and enhanced over the next few years • The SEAI better promotes the scheme to increase the uptake of the SSRH in the agriculture sector • The biogas operational support under the scheme be reviewed and the tariff rates significantly increased, as their current low rate has resulted in no uptake of the biogas operation support under the SSRH • The biogas operational support under the SSRH is made available to farmers for heat generation equipment associated with a farm scale biogas plant where capital support has been received separately for the development of the biogas production plant itself.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Frank Brady IFA Energy From Farming Project Team Chair, Niamh Brennan IFA Senior Policy Executive

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Submission (1)

Email (2-5)

Social Media (2-5)

Meeting (1)

Informal communication (2-5)

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Aindrias Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Dillon Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Danny Healy-Rae TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eileen Lynch Senator (Seanad)

Jenny McCormack Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Joanne Collins Senator (Seanad)

Joe Cooney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Natasha Newsome Drennan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paraic Brady Senator (Seanad)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Lawless TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter 'Chap' Cleere TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

William Aird TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)