Specific Details
Climate & Nature Fund - Delivering a Just Transition for Agriculture
Intended results
To highlight that IFA believes that a substantial proportion of the Climate and Nature Fund, together with revenues generated through carbon taxation, must be ring-fenced for agriculture. Farmers need certainty that additional climate and environmental obligations will be matched by dedicated financial supports and that Government is committed to delivering a genuine Just Transition for farm families.
IFA Propose
• Additional financing under the Climate and Nature Fund must be allocated and ring fenced to support the following measures and provide farmers with the long-term certainty required to invest in climate action and environmental improvements.
• Introduce a targeted grant aid scheme, alongside Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) supports, to accelerate farmer investment in proven measures delivering measurable climate, biodiversity and water quality outcomes. The scheme should prioritise nutrient management technologies, low-emission slurry spreading equipment, water protection infrastructure and biodiversity enhancement measures, and complement existing TAMS by addressing current gaps in eligible investments
• Establish a dedicated Watercourse Fencing Scheme providing 100% grant aid for fencing adjoining watercourses on Natura 2000 and other designated lands, and 75% grant aid on all other farmlands. The scheme should also support alternative drinking water systems and associated infrastructure where required.
• Introduce scheme to provide all farmers with a bespoke Rainwater and Nutrient Management Plan, free of charge, supported by one-to-one on-farm consultation with a suitably qualified adviser to maximise nutrient efficiency, improve water quality and reduce emissions
• Introduce a dedicated Nature and Nutrient Management Scheme, open from 2027-2030, providing a minimum grant aid rate of 60% for investments that deliver climate, biodiversity and water quality benefits. The scheme should be available to farmers not eligible for TAMS and should support items currently outside the scope of TAMS, including dribble bars and other emerging technologies.
• Re-establish and significantly expand the National Liming Programme, with increased eligible area limits and enhanced grant aid rates that reflect inflation, rising input costs and strong farmer demand. Improving soil fertility through liming remains one of the most cost-effective measures available to improve nutrient efficiency, reduce chemical fertiliser requirements and lower agricultural emissions.
• Introduce a new Farming for Habitat and Species payment to reward farmers delivering biodiversity and habitat outcomes and provide continuity of support for participants in EIP schemes, including the Hen Harrier, Pearl Mussel and Burren Programmes. Farmers in hill, upland and designated areas must be fully eligible
• Expand and enhance the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme for all farmers with designated lands. Payment rates should reflect the additional costs, restrictions and income foregone associated with designation, while sufficient resources must be allocated to ensure timely approvals and payments.
• No further land designations or restrictions on designated lands should be introduced until existing designations are adequately compensated and current administrative shortcomings are addressed. Any future designation proposals must involve meaningful engagement with affected landowners and include an independent appeals process
• Establish an Active Predator Management Scheme under the National Biodiversity Action Plan to address biodiversity losses arising from predator pressures and increased recreational activity in sensitive habitats.
• Introduce a Historic Hedgerow Rejuvenation Scheme to restore and strengthen Ireland's hedgerow network, improve biodiversity and enhance carbon sequestration. Additional supports should be provided for beekeeping and pollinator-friendly actions.
To accelerate the delivery of Ireland's Biomethane Strategy
- A dedicated support package for farm-scale and community-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) projects should be introduced, this should include e capital grant aid for the construction of on-farm AD plants and associated digestate storage infrastructure.
- Establish Government-backed low-cost finance, similar to SBCI lending products, to support investment in AD facilities.
- Introduce a Biomass Mobilisation Scheme to support the development of sustainable feedstock supply chains. Agricultural feedstocks supplied to AD plants must not be classified as waste
- Streamline planning, licensing and regulatory processes for AD developments through statutory decision timelines and nationally consistent assessment criteria
- Prioritise the use of livestock slurry and farmyard manure as feedstocks in AD plants to maximise emissions reductions and nutrient recycling.
- Establish a transparent and independent pricing mechanism to ensure a sustainable return for farmers supplying feedstocks to AD plants.
- Ensure all existing agricultural taxation measures, reliefs and exemptions continue to apply to farmers participating in AD projects.
- Support the reclassification of digestate under the Nitrates Directive, in line with scientific evidence, so that it does not count towards a farm's organic nitrogen loading and can support more circular agricultural systems.
- Ensure digestate from AD plants is eligible for use on organic farms, subject to compliance with organic standards.
- Safeguard animal welfare and food production by ensuring grass and other feed products remain prioritised for livestock. In periods of fodder shortage, feedstocks suitable for animal consumption should be diverted from AD production for use as livestock feed.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Alice Doyle IFA Deputy President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Elaine Farrell IFA Director of Governance & Oireachtas Engagement, Tadhg Buckley IFA Director of Policy & Chief Economist, Robert Malone IFA Senior Policy Executive, Shane Whelan 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
Mass communications
Letter All TDs
Submission All TDs
Letter All Senators
Submission All Senators
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
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.
Dee Ryan
Senator (Seanad)
Deirdre Gillane
Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Holly Cairns
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Jack Chambers
Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)
Jack O'Donnell
Special Advisor to the Tanaiste (Department of Finance)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Minister (Department of Health)
Jennifer Whitmore
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
John Clendennen
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Micheál Martin
Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Niall Collins
Minister of State (Department of Justice)
Nicole Ryan
Senator (Seanad)
Nikki Bradley
Senator (Seanad)
Noel O'Donovan
Senator (Seanad)
Pat the Cope Gallagher
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Paul Daly
Senator (Seanad)
Robbie Gallagher
Senator (Seanad)
Rose Conway-Walsh
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Simon Harris
Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Finance)