Specific Details
IFA Budget 2020 Submission - Expenditure
Intended results
Brexit support - beef farmers: in addition to the €100m (EU Commission €50m, National Government €50m) further direct support for farmers will be needed to deal with losses incurred, particularly for beef farmers, post May 2019. These ongoing losses are due to the decline in the value of sterling and market disturbance arising from Brexit uncertainty.
Brexit support - stabilise market: in the context of the current beef crisis which has been exacerbated by Brexit, Ireland must call on the EU to make available the €1bn fund immediately to stabilise the Irish and EU beef market. The Commission must ban the importation of Mercosur beef, which has consistently fallen short of European standards in audits by the EU Food and Veterinary Office.
Brexit support - market access: in the event of a no-deal/hard Brexit which reduces market access and increases barriers to trade, the EU must make available structural and adjustment funding. In this context State-aid rules must be set aside.
Brexit support - next MFF 2021-27: discussions are ongoing for the next MFF 2021-2027, the Irish allocation should be increased and take account of inflation. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal there may be further issues in terms of a shortfall in 2020, EU or national funding may be required in this instance.
Suckler cow - rollover / extend: to rollover and extend a simpler revised BDGP and BEEP schemes for sucklers to 2021 and 2022.
Suckler cow - increase funding: a €38m increase in funding for suckler cows, in addition to the existing funding for the BGDP and BEEP schemes (€43m and €19m), bringing suckler cow funding to a total of €100m pa for 2021 and 2022.
Suckler cow - targeted payment: Suckler farmers need a targeted payment of €200 per cow, facilitated by a combination of CAP and national funding.
Sheep welfare scheme: that sheep farmers are able to draw down the full €25m allocated annually under the welfare scheme, through the inclusion of an additional set of actions and options for farmers.
Sheep welfare targeted payment: a targeted payment of €30 per ewe through a combination of CAP and national funding is needed for sheep farmers.
ANCs: that funding for the ANCs is increased by a further €50m to bring the total budget for the scheme to €300m.
Climate action - SDP: an additional allocation to the DAFM budget, to introduce a Sustainable Development Programme (SDP).
Climate action - price supports: SDP to co-ordinate the delivery of price supports for farm-scale and community-based renewables and to ensure the maximum delivery of the Teagasc MACC climate roadmap.
Climate action - on-farm renewables fund: remove the overall €80,000 ceiling in the terms of the on-farm renewables fund, to facilitate maximum uptake
Climate action - planning requirements: a review of the existing planning requirements for all on-farm renewable projects in line with other EU Member States.
Climate action - Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS): overall grant aid available for LESS scheme is increased to 60%; the separate limit to general TAMS is increased; LESS included in an enhanced GLAS; investment in LESS equipment is exempt from VAT.
Climate action - protected urea: introduction of a protected urea incentive scheme, closing the price differential between it and existing products.
Climate action - slurry additives: support is put in place to encourage slurry additives uptake, and that Teagasc or DAFM publish an annual list of tested slurry additive products which can deliver the outcomes.
Climate action - liming grant scheme: introduction of a liming grant scheme, to support environment efficiency in terms of healthy soils and crop growth.
Climate action - soil structure support programme: to include soil aeration equipment to maximise the agronomic and environmental benefits of good soil structures.
Agri-environment schemes - GLAS: the GLAS scheme must be reopened for all farmers who are currently denied entry. In addition, all farmers must be paid in a calendar year.
Agri-environment schemes - funding allocation: for all environmental and locally led schemes including GLAS, the Burren, Hen Harrier and Organic Schemes of €250m is required in Budget 2020.
Agri-environment schemes - max GLAS targeted payment: should be increased to €10,000 in the next RDP.
Farm forestry - payment for Ecosystem Services: for farmers on land set aside for biodiversity enhancement and to encourage planting of more broadleaf woodlands. This payment would provide an income beyond the 15-year forest premium, until there is an economic return from the timber.
Farm forestry - new Ash Dieback Reconstitution Scheme: that provides a grant to re-establish woodland affected by the disease and reinstates 15-year forest premium on newly established forest.
Farm forestry - investment grant: to support the purchase of specialised harvesting and processing equipment, for small-scale private forests.
Farm forestry -timber transport scheme: to provide additional funding to Local Authorities. This would facilitate the sustainable transport of timber in rural areas and eliminate the existing bond payment for the transport of timber on public roads required by some Local Authorities.
Designated Areas Payments - funding: additional €10m must be allocated to the NPWS in Budget 2020 to pay farmers where restrictions to farming result from the designation of land.
Organic Farm Scheme (OFS) - organic transitional scheme: targeted reopening of the scheme for specific commodity sectors that are currently in deficit such as tillage, horticulture and dairy.
Organic Farm Scheme (OFS) - reopening: for longer periods to improve sectorial balance and reduce imports. ROI imported €8m to meet demand of certified organic grains.
Organic Farm Scheme (OFS) - additional payment: on the first 3ha of organic horticulture. There is a clear growing market and demand for organic fruit and vegetables that will return a margin.
Bioeconomy - funding & tax incentives: including 100% capital allowances, be introduced to support farmers to invest in essential infrastructure, such as specialised machinery, storage and drying units to establish quality biomass supply chains for the emerging bioeconomy.
Bioeconomy - adequate resources: commitment by Government to provide them for development of Ireland’s bioeconomy so agri-communities can develop alternative income streams & enable Ireland to meet its GHG emission/renewable energy targets. Fiscal stimuli must include capital grant aid for renewable energy installations & development of biomass supply chains; also for feed in tariff (FIT), feed in premium (FIP), medium term contracts (10–15yrs) and the provision of low interest loans.
Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS): must be be announced by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, with a proportion of the scheme ring-fenced for community and farm scale projects.
Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) - climate & renewables activation programme: zero-carbon electricity tariff for community based renewable projects, to displace electricity production from gas, which accounts for 35% of greenhouse gasses emitted when generating electricity. Introduction of a €100 prosumer strategy, which ring-fences 20% of the electricity levy paid annually, to encourage homeowners and farm families to replace their fossil fuels with renewables sources.
Support Scheme Renewable Heat (SSRH): that the SSRH is adequately funded in Budget 2020, to create sufficient scale in the market to achieve the targets and avoid costly penalties.
Home Renovation Incentive (HRI): that confirmation of qualifying works under the HRI includes renewable technologies such as solar, heat pumps, micro wind and battery storage to assist Ireland to deliver and comply with its environmental obligations.
Smart Farming: the expansion and development of the voluntary Smart Farming Programme, as recommended by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine in their July 2018 Climate Change and Sustainability in the Agriculture and Food Sectors report.
Low cost loans - working capital: future finance must include low-cost working capital finance and on-farm investment to support the competitiveness of farming enterprises and other SMEs.
Producer Organisations (POs): funding is provided to assist farmers with the ongoing running costs of POs and extending establishment aid in certain sectors.
Knowledge Transfer (KT): to support increased participation by farmers and POs in KT programmes across all sectors, IFA is proposing funding of €25m. This would allow an extension of the KT programme for 2020 and allow additional participants into the scheme.
Animal health - TB Eradication Scheme: increased funding for the scheme to compensate farmers in full for the necessary controls to achieve TB eradication.
Animal health - a Wildlife Control Programme: staffed to facilitate increased capture activity in recognised TB problem areas – to include wildlife issues prior to major infrastructural works/deforestation and a targeted Deer Management Programme.
Animal health - Regional Veterinary Laboratories: funding to ensure they are equipped with staff, resources and facilities to deliver enhanced services to farmers on the six strategically located sites.
Animal health - veterinary staff numbers: appropriate veterinary staff numbers must be provided in all Regional Veterinary Offices.
Animal health - BVD programme: direct financial support for lower level national monitoring required in the final phase of the BVD programme.
Animal health - Johnes control programme: funding to support a credible, targeted Johnes control programme.
Animal health - National IBR programme: funding for a Department of Agriculture administered National IBR programme.
Animal health - EWS: dedicated budget for the EWS.
TAMs - 2020 allocation: must be set at €120m. It is necessary to meet all outstanding commitments and new applications for 2020.
TAMs - additional items inclusion: for grant aid including road underpasses, weighbridges, rubber mats and other items.
TAMs - solar panels: needs to be a separate investment limit for solar panels, similar to (LESS).
TAMs - ceiling for LESS: needs to increase.
TAMs - investment limit: for the intensive sectors, such as pigs and poultry, are increased.
TAMs - minimum investment limit lowered: from €2,000 to accommodate small investments which meet a positive outcome, such as EID readers and health & safety equipment.
TAMs - standard costings: are adjusted in line with increased costs of building material, machinery and labour.
Tillage: that there is greater flexibility in farm schemes so that tillage farmers qualify for higher grant rate payments. This is particularly relevant in relation to the TAMS and GLAS schemes.
Horticulture - scheme: that it be renewed post-2019 and that funding is increased to €8m in Budget 2020. This is to meet the demand for investment, evidenced by the oversubscription of the scheme in previous years and to support the recommendations, of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Report on Climate Action, regarding the expansion of the Irish Horticulture sector.
Horticulture - compensation: must be provided for the disposal of ash plants in the amenity horticulture sector, arising from the Ash-Dieback disease.
Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax (SSDT) & healthy eating: that the €35m revenue generated from the sugar tax on sweetened drinks, should be directed towards the promotion of the consumption of fresh and healthy Irish produce.
Aquaculture - DAFM / ALAB Service Level Agreement: that a Service Level Agreement is made by DAFM & ALAB, and that the adequate funding is made to ensure ALAB is sufficiently resourced to process any appeal it receives – whether for finfish, shellfish or algae – within the four-month period allowed under 56 (2)(a) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997.
Aquaculture - licence applications: reduce costs and improve efficiency in licence applications.
Aquaculture - web–based Aquaculture Application and Monitoring System: sufficient funding be provided to ensure the earliest possible finalisation of Recommendation 8.5 of the Independent Aquaculture Licence Review Committee on the establishment of this system.
Licence fees, foreshore costs & rates: that charges for use of the foreshore should be consolidated into a single charge in these areas, at a cost which is affordable and fair, and allows producers to make a reasonable return on investment. This should be done in consultation with industry in the context of the proposed Foreshore Bill.
Walks Scheme - expenditure: that it is increased so that the full €4m allocated is fully utilised.
Walks Scheme - development & funding: that such iconic walks are developed with local communities and are funded through a specially targeted budget.
Farm Assist - means test for farm equipment & machinery: should be increased to a standard rate of 10% to more accurately reflect the useful life of these assets.
Farm Assist - income disregards: that those for agri-environmental schemes, included in the means test for Farm Assist, be extended to also disregard forestry premium payments.
Farm Assist - option of a three-year income test assessment: be considered in certain circumstances.
Home Care Support Scheme: that the budget allocation for the Home Support Service is increased and that priority be given to older people living in rural areas who have limited access to community-based services.
Fair Deal Scheme - additional funding: in Budget 2020, Government must provide additional funding to support the introduction of a three-year cap on productive farm assets under the Nursing Home Support Scheme.
Fair Deal Scheme - introduction of the Heads of Bill: be implemented retrospectively from July 2018.
Contributory pension - calculation: that the changes to the method of calculating contributory pension is consistent with the National Pensions Framework, which stated that a total contributions requirement of 30 years would be introduced to qualify for the maximum personal pension rate.
Contributory pension - Class K contributions: that farmers who paid Class K contributions when employed or assisting on the family farm are not disadvantaged in calculating pension payments.
Contributory pension - credited contributions for those on Farm Assist: farmers in receipt of Farm Assist prior to 2007 who were ineligible to make PRSI contributions, should be credited contributions to help them qualify for contributory pension, rather then being required to make voluntary contributions. This should be implemented in a similar way to those in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance.
Work-life balance for self-employed: that the self-employed are not discriminated against in terms of for maternal, paternal and carers benefits.
Farm safety - introduction of scheme: increased funding for health and safety equipment under TAMS.
Farm safety - minimum spend of €2,000 in TAMS be reduced or removed: to eliminate the current disincentive to participation
Farm safety - handbrake and PTO improvement scheme: to include a PTO scrappage scheme and a handbrake replacement scheme, assisting farmers to replace malfunctioning equipment.
Farm safety - annual farm safety budget: to be allocated to the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee to implement future farm safety action plans.
Road development: that farmers impacted by national road developments under the new National Development Plan receive a flexibility payment, reinstated to the value of €5,000/ac.
Paschal Donohoe
Minister (Department of Finance)
Patrick O'Donovan
Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)
Pat Deering
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Charlie McConalogue
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Lower House of the Oireachtas)
Simon Harris
Minister (Department of Health)
Pat Breen
Minister of State (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)
Regina Doherty
Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)
John Halligan
Minister of State (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)
John Paul Phelan
Minister of State (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)
Michelle Mulherin
Senator (Seanad)
Paul Kehoe
Minister of State (Department of Defence)
Finian McGrath
Minister of State (Department of Health)
Ciarán Cannon
Minister of State for the Diaspora and Overseas Development Aid (Department of Foreign Affairs)
Peter Burke
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Mattie McGrath
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Pippa Hackett
Councillor (Offaly County Council)
Margaret Murphy O'Mahony
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Victor Boyhan
Senator (Seanad)
Tom Neville
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Bobby Aylward
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Terry Leyden
Senator (Seanad)
Michelle Mulherin
Senator (Seanad)
Philip O’Callaghan
Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)
Jerry Buttimer
Senator (Seanad)
Bernard Durkan
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Declan Breathnach
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
James Browne
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
John Brassil
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
John Brady
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Jackie Cahill
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Dara Calleary
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Joe Carey
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Pat Casey
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Niall Collins
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Timmy Dooley
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Martin Ferris
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Damien English
Minister of State (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)
Jim Daly
Minister of State (Department of Health)
Pat 'the cope' Gallagher
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Noel Grealish
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Brendan Griffin
Minister of State (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)
Danny Healy-Rae
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Healy-Rae
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Martin Heydon
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Martin Kenny
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Sean Kyne
Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)
Marc MacSharry
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Charlie McConalogue
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Mary Lou McDonald
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Helen McEntee
Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)
Michael McGrath
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
John McGuinness
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Tony McLoughlin
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Aindrias Moynihan
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Moynihan
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Eugene Murphy
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Denis Naughten
Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)
Hildegarde Naughton
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Carol Nolan
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Éamon Ó Cuív
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Fergus O'Dowd
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Kevin O'Keeffe
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Fiona O'Loughlin
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Eamon Scanlon
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Seán Sherlock
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Brendan Smith
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Brian Stanley
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Robert Troy
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Maria Byrne
Senator (Seanad)
Paudie Coffey
Senator (Seanad)
Paul Coghlan
Senator (Seanad)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Senator (Seanad)
Paul Daly
Senator (Seanad)
Frank Feighan
Senator (Seanad)
Robbie Gallagher
Senator (Seanad)
Tim Lombard
Senator (Seanad)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Senator (Seanad)
Ian Marshall
Senator (Seanad)
Kieran O'Donnell
Senator (Seanad)
Seán Canney
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)