The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 10 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details IFA Budget 2027 submission - Fair Deal and Older People in Rural Areas

Intended results IFA Propose • Fair Deal Reform Reduce the 5-year land/business transfer clause to 3 years to allow more farmers to benefit from the Fair Deal Scheme. • Land leased under Fair Deal should be classed as “actively farmed” to meet succession criteria. • Increase the ancillary state support loan payback to a minimum of 5 years to allow sufficient time to repay the costs. • Increase cash asset disregard for a single person from €36,000 to €44,000 and for a couple from €72,000 to €88,000. • Reduce the assessment period for the family home under Fair Deal from 3 years to 2 years, with a maximum contribution of 15% of the home's value (7.5% per year), instead of the current cap of 22.5%. • Income from leased farmland should be excluded or at least partially disregarded in the Fair Deal financial assessment. • 80% of income should be calculated on net income rather than gross, to reflect the true disposable income available after tax and mandatory reduction. • Home Support Scheme - Immediately introduce a statutory, universal Home Support Scheme, with specific rural adaptation funding. • Interim Measures - Increase Home Support Service hours and improve geographic consistency. • Private Nursing Home Equity Ensure equitable funding between public and private nursing homes.

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.

Email (11-20)

Meeting (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.

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)