Press release
Minister launches the Public Consultation on the draft interventions for the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, today announced the commencement of a public consultation on the draft interventions proposed for the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan. The consultation will run for a four-week period, from 30th July to 27th August.
Following presentation by his Department earlier today of the draft interventions to the CAP Stakeholder Consultative Committee, the Minister said:
“I wish to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of all stakeholders through the work of the CAP Consultative Committee to date.
The draft interventions have been developed based in no small measure on stakeholder input, including through extensive consideration of the situation in the sector by way of a formal SWOT analysis and needs assessment process. The proposed draft interventions are wide-ranging, and I believe will support farmers and rural communities to address the economic, environmental and social challenges that they face.”
The Minister noted that there is a particularly strong emphasis on the achievement of a higher level of climate and environment ambition through a new “Green Architecture” that will operate across both direct payments and rural development interventions. He also emphasised that Ireland proposes to put the CSP at the core of the transition to more sustainable agricultural and food systems.
Commenting further, Minister McConalogue noted:
“I have consistently said that I would consult widely to hear the views of all stakeholders in order to fully inform my decisions on, for example, redistribution of direct payments, capping and convergence of direct payments, and on how best to achieve the economic, environmental and social objectives of the CAP. I look forward to all stakeholders, and the wider public, engaging in the process over the coming weeks.”
On the process, the Minister emphasised that he wanted to make it as accessible as possible in the light of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. He said:
“Two virtual townhall meetings will be conducted via Webinar at 7pm on 11 and 12 August. There will be an opportunity to ask questions on the night, or to submit them in advance. In addition, written submissions can be made to my Department by post or email until 27th August.”
Written submissions should be made to CAPStrategicPlan@agriculture.gov.ie
or by post to:
CAP Rural Development Division,
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street,
D02 WK12
Submissions should be marked: ‘draft interventions for CAP Strategic Plan’
Notes for editors:
Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) for the period 2023-2027 will underpin the sustainable development of Ireland’s farming and food sector by supporting viable farm incomes and enhancing competitiveness, by strengthening the socio-economic fabric of rural areas, and by contributing to the achievement of environmental and climate objectives at national and EU levels.
The new CSP will represent a change in the approach to CAP planning and implementation compared to previous programming periods. Instead of the familiar compliance-based approach followed previously, a new performance-based approach will be adopted. This will be underpinned by a ‘New Delivery Model’, under which Member States’ performance will be judged on outputs and results, and on how their CSPs contribute to CAP objectives at EU level. The CSP will also take a more holistic approach, incorporating interventions under both Pillar I (Direct Payments and Sectoral Interventions) and Pillar II (Rural Development) into one overall plan.
The launch of the public consultation on the draft interventions for the CAP Strategic Plan is a very important next step in the development of Ireland’s Plan. The draft interventions outlined were developed based on stakeholder input, as well as on the preparatory work undertaken by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (in particular, the work undertaken on the SWOT analysis and Needs Assessment required under the CAP Strategic Plan Regulation), in consultation with other relevant Departments and agencies.
To ensure that maximum stakeholder input is received at this stage of the CSP design process, there are two strands to the consultation, as follows:
a) written submissions, which are invited from interested parties by the closing date of 27 August.
b) virtual townhall meetings, which will take place on 11 and 12 August.
Virtual townhall meetings will be conducted via Webinar. Further details on these will be available www.gov.ie/cap
The responses received through the public consultation will be reflected in a draft version of the overall CAP Strategic Plan that will be submitted to external evaluators in early September. Following completion of their work, an updated plan will be made available for further public consultation in October/November. The final plan will be submitted for Government approval in December before submission to the EU Commission by the deadline of 1st January 2022. The EU Commission has 6/8 months to approve the plan. The CAP Strategic Plan will commence on 1 January 2023.