Relevant Matter
Matters involving public funds
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 Sep, 2022 to 31 Dec, 2022
Specific Details
Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and the Burren Programme
Intended results
To highlight the impact of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme(ACRES) on Burren Farmer Payments
Up until 2022 the average annual payment for Burren Farmers through the Burren Payment(BP) and the Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) was circa €9 - 10,000. From 2023 onwards the average annual payment for Burren farmers through the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme(ACRES) will be €7,000 up to a maximum of €10,500. So. what was previously the 'average' is now the 'maximum'.
Of additional concern is that, under the Burren Payment(BP), habitat payments were results-based (the more you delivered, the more you were paid), so for some farmers the BP ‘results-based' payment alone was up to €10,000 which meant a total Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme(GLAS) and Burren Payment(BP) payment of up to €15,000 - as well as a large allowance to co-fund additional conservation works on the farm.
These larger farms will see significant payment reductions under ACRES CP (as will Organic farmers in the Burren who will, under ACRES CP receive a much-reduced rate per ha than their conventional counterparts).
The use of ceilings (€7k max for the result-based payment) under ACRES CP will mean that
- Payments for many Burren farmers (estimated as over half of BP farmers) will be capped at this level and so overall payment will be less (significantly in some cases) under this CAP than under the previous CAP;
- For these farmers there is no real incentive to maintain environmental condition of much of their land (as it won't be receiving any payment) which will most likely lead to environmental decline and a reversal of gains made under the BP.
IFA propose that the solution is to treat the Burren landscape as an ‘exceptional circumstance' (wording used in the CAP Strategic Plan) on the basis of the unique extent and quality of the habitats and archaeology present.
- On this basis, either scrap the €7k ceiling or increase it significantly to ensure that there is no backsliding in payments or in environmental outcomes in the Burren.
- Consider Organic Farmers in the Burren at the same rates as other farmers for their winterage lands which require additional (over and above other lands) work to maintain their condition.
- This shouldn't impact significantly on the overall €9.1m projected budget for the CP area as it will only affect a limited number of larger farms (and some Organic farms) in the region.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Tim Cullinan IFA President, Michael Davoren IFA County Clare, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, TJ Heffernan IFA Regional 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.
Informal communication (6-10)
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.
Violet Anne Wynne
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael McNamara
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Brendan Gleeson
Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Charlie McConalogue
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Patrick Donohoe
Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Timmy Dooley
Senator (Seanad)
Joe Carey
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Róisín Garvey
Senator (Seanad)
Cathal Crowe
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)