Relevant Matter
Matters involving public funds
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 May, 2016 to 31 Aug, 2016
Specific Details
Budget 2017 - IFA Submission to Government on Expenditure
Intended results
Agri-Environment Schemes - GLAS - that funding of €250m is allocated for agri-environment schemes in Budget 2017, with full payments for all GLAS, AEOS and oranic scheme participants
Areas of Natural Constraints - that funding is increased by €25m in Budget 2017, to €225m, This should commence the process to restore ANC payments to pre-2008 levels
Targeted direct support for the sheep sector - that the €25m commitment in the Programme for Government for a targeted sheep scheme is introduced in Budget 2017 and that the scheme is simple and effective, with minimal costs and bureaucracy on farmers, so as to maximise its benefits.
Beef Data and Genomics Programme - that this programme is reopened in 2016 to target increased direct support for the suckler cow sector of €200/cow, this would require additional funding of €25m.
TAMS II - in order to meet the expected demand for on-farm investment, funding of €50m must be allocated to the TAMS II programme in 2017
Knowledge Transfer - that funding of €30m is allocated for Knowledge Transfer programmes for farmers across all sectors
Producer Organisations - that the Department of Agriculture provide funding to assist farmers with the costs associated with the establishment, start up activities, and on-going running costs of producer organisations
Annual funding of €8m for the Scheme of investment aid for the development of the Commercial horticulture sector is required, due to increased investment commitments to meet sustainability standards. This scheme must also be expanded to include potatoes, specifically a targeted scheme of investment to support the development of salad, seed potatoes and potatoes for the fresh chip market.
Compensation must be provided for the disposal of ash plants in the amenity horticulture sector, which has been negatively affected by the closure of markets due to the Ash-Dieback disease.
Animal Health - A properly funded Deer Management Programme, including targeted resources where deer are associated with TB breakdowns.
- Increased funding allocation for the TB Eradication Programme to reduce costs for farmers maintaining calves on-farm and offsetting costs due to the prohibition on purchasing in animals
- Funding for a Department of Agriculture administered National IBR programme to safeguard access to our vital exports markets
- Increased funding for the BVD programme, recognising the extra costs incurred by farmers in repeat testing
- Strengthening of financial supports for the Johnes pilot programme, to encourage participation
- Increased funding and resources to upgrade the service provided to farmers in the Regional Veterinary Laboratories
Animal Health – Irish Equine Centre - that the state contribution for research funding for the Irish Equine Centre of €1m over a three year period is maintained.
Forestry - Funding for a 7,000 ha planting programme
- Funding for existing forest owner groups to realise the economic potential of private forest resource
- Funding of the Forest Road Scheme should be increased to cover the cost of the road construction and support mobilisation of private forest resource
- Funding for small scale harvesting and processing equipment to facilitate the mobilisation of non-commercial scale forests
- Funding for the establishment of a forestry forum to increase transparency in the supply chain and achieve the timber production forecasts.
Aquaculture - that the grant aid provided by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), administered by BIM, must be targeted on measures that deliver more seafood for a growing market.
SAC payments - that additional funding of €5m must be allocated to the NPWS in Budget 2017 to pay farmers where restrictions to farming result from land designation.
Fair Deal Scheme – Means Assessment of farm assets - that the contribution to the cost of care under the Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme must be immediately reviewed and must be proportionate to the ability to pay of the family farm. This would allow farm families to make the most appropriate decisions in meeting the cost of care.
Farm Assist - that, in the forthcoming review of Farm Assist, the income and child disregards that were fully abolished in Budgets 2012 and 2013 must be reinstated. In addition, IFA believes that support similar to the Family Income Supplement should be introduced for farm families whose incomes are low, but above the Farm Assist threshold.
Rural Social Scheme (RSS) - that the number of places in the RSS is increased from its current number of 2,600 to 4,000. Eligibility to partake in the RSS must be flexible to cater for farmers whose incomes, while low, are above the threshold for Farm Assist.
Walks Scheme - that, as per the commitment in the Programme for Government, the number of walks covered by the scheme must be increased to 80 and that the allocation is increased from €2m to €4m in Budget 2017.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Joe Healy IFA President, Martin Stapleton IFA Farm Business Chairman, Joe Brady IFA Rural Development Chairman
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?
Yes
What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners?
To lobby all Oireachtas Members on IFA's Budget 2017 Submission
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Mass communications
Letter All Oireachtas Members
Letter with a copy of IFA's 2017 Budget Submission
Letter All Oireachtas Members
Letter of invitation to IFA Lobbying Day on IFA 2017 Budget Submission
Submission All Oireachtas Members
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Letter (1)
Letter Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Meeting (1)
Meeting with Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Letter (1)
Letter to Michael Noonan Minister for Finance
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.
Paschal Donohoe
Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)
Stephen Lynam
Special Advisor (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)
Michael Noonan
Minister (Department of Finance)