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The CAP Strategic Plan 2023 - 2027
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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Cover letter from the EU Commission - observations on the proposal by Ireland for CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
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List of Observations on Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan.
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Response to the EU Commission observation letter from Secretary General Brendan Gleeson
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Letter from Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development on observations on Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027
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Minister McConalogue's response to letter from the Commissioner
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CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 Ex-Ante Evaluation: Final Report
DownloadThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine held a series of public information sessions relating to Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) for the period 2023-2027. The information sessions took place at 11 venues across the country over the month of March with one webinar held on 15th March for those who wished to attend online. The webinar was recorded and is available below for ease of access for those who could not attend.
Public Information Meetings March 2022 - Presentations
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Summary of Ireland's draft CAP Strategic Plan 2023- 2027
DownloadClarification on minimum stocking rate
The minimum stocking rate outlined as 0.15 Livestock Units per hectare (LU/ha) has now been set at 0.10 LU/ha.
The clarification relates to:
• Eco-scheme (Extensive Livestock Production) on page 9
• Areas facing Natural Constraints on page 21
The new proposed minimum stocking rate of 0.10 LU/ha maintains the link with 1 Ewe per hectare (1 Ewe = 0.10 LU) as it is in the current CAP.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) protects family farm incomes, supports the rural economy, ensures the production of high-quality safe food for consumers and protects rural landscapes and the environment.
The CAP consists of a Two Pillar Structure:
- Pillar 1 Income Support (The main schemes include the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening)
- Pillar 2 Infrastructure, Environment and Development Support (The main schemes include GLAS, EIP-AGRI and TAMS)
The CAP was established in 1962. Over the years it has evolved to meet the changing needs and demands of European agriculture and the wider European society. The latest CAP reform is no different in this regard and in line with societal demands includes a very strong emphasis on the environment as shown below.
The nine specific objectives identified for CAP Post 2020
DownloadSource: European Commission
Find below a PDF version of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 that was submitted to the EU Commission on the evening of the 31st December 2021. The Plan is divided into several documents that were uploaded to the European Commission’s IT system as separate attachments. These include:
Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan
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Annex 1a Ex Ante Evaluation Report
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Annex 1b SEA Report
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Annex 2 Ireland’s SWOT Analysis
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Annex 3 Consultation with Partners
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annex to section 3.1.5 on the complementarity of LIFE with the CSP
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annex to section 7.3 IACS EAGF
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annex to section 7.3 IACS EAFRD
DownloadThe Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Greening Payment Scheme will be replaced with the Basic Income Support Scheme (BISS) and two new schemes called the Eco-scheme and the Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) from 2023 onwards.
BISS will continue to be paid based on Payment Entitlements, with all values below the average converging to 85% of the national average by 2026.
Eco-scheme is designed to provide direct income support to active farmers who undertake agricultural practices beneficial for the climate, biodiversity, water quality and the environment. 25% of the direct payment ceiling has been allocated to the Eco-scheme. If all existing 129,000 BPS claimants submit all their current lands, the Eco-scheme payment is expected to be circa €66 per hectare. The Eco-scheme is an annual scheme. Farmers must deliver at least 2 of the following agricultural practices:
1. Space for Nature (Non-productive areas and landscape features)
2. Extensive Livestock Production
3. Limiting Chemical Nitrogen Usage
4. Planting of Native Trees/Hedgerows
5. Use of GPS Controlled Spreader and/or Sprayer
6. Soil Sampling & Appropriate Liming
7. Planting a Break Crop
8. Sowing a Multi Species Sward
CRISS, often referred to as front loading, will redistribute 10% of the direct payments ceiling based on farm size. Farmers are expected to receive circa €43 per hectare on their first 30 hectares.
All active farmers will be eligible to apply for the Eco-scheme and CRISS regardless of whether they hold entitlements or not and payment will be made on eligible hectares claimed.
All applications for the BISS, Eco-scheme, CRISS, Areas of Natural Constraints and other area-based schemes will continue to be made using the Department’s online application facility on agfood.ie.
The Department has developed a payment calculator and a stocking rate calculator to help inform farmers of the changes in the new CAP. The calculators are available below.
Step by step guides have also been prepared for the calculators.
Payment Calculator Guide
Payment Calculator Guide
DownloadStocking Rate Calculator Guide
Stocking Rate Calculator Guide
DownloadModelling of Redistributive Proposals (Aug 2021)
Agreement has now been reached on the new CAP regulations, and these present Ireland with options on how direct payments should be structured within the limits set in the regulations. The document below examines how some of the direct payments interventions interact, and gives information on how the redistributive proposals outlined in the agreement might impact farmers in Ireland.
CAP - Redistribution Modelling Exercise - August 2021
DownloadNegotiations on the new CAP programme are ongoing and are due to conclude in the coming months (May 2021). At this point, there is much debate on the level of convergence that is likely in the new programme. Council has accepted a new minimum convergence level of 75%, however during the negotiations with the European Parliament, a higher rate of 85% has been proposed. It is useful at this point to provide an outline of how this change might affect payment entitlement values if this level were in the final regulations
85% Convergence Modelling - April 2021
DownloadThe document below uses the European Commission’s proposals as the basis to model how direct payments could be affected by various options. It seeks to inform stakeholders on likely trends that could emerge from different aspects and options within the proposals.
CAP post 2020- Direct Payments Modelling - September 2019
This document uses the European Commission’s proposals as the basis to model how direct payments could be affected by various options. It seeks to inform stakeholders on likely trends that could emerge from different aspects and options within the proposals.
DownloadThe new CAP’s national agri-environment scheme (AECM) was submitted to the European Commission for approval in December.
As part of this scheme, eight areas in the country have been identified as being of particular environmental importance and farmers in those areas will engage in the new AECM through the cooperation project teams. These farmers will benefit from higher payment rates, up to a maximum €10,500 per year, should they participate and undertake the most environmentally ambitious actions.
Map of Priority Co-operation Zones
DownloadThe CAP Consultative Committee was established in May 2019. It provides a forum to allow stakeholders express their views and remain updated as the CAP reform discussions progress. Membership, meeting documents and presentations can be viewed here CAP Post 2020 Consultative Committee
The Department is currently preparing the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy for Ireland 2023-2027.
The CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) includes the preparation of a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis and a Needs Assessment.
Ireland’s Needs Assessment - Preparations for Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027
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Ireland’s SWOT Analysis - Preparations for Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027
DownloadA number of public consultations were undertaken and can be viewed at the links below
For CAP Post 2020, each Member State will have to develop a CAP Strategic Plan. As part of Ireland’s preparations for the CAP Strategic Plan a full Public Consultation was held in Autumn 2019. Members of the public were able to submit submissions and in addition three regional public events were held. The submissions can be viewed hereCAP Post 2020 - Public Submissions
Overview of Public Consultation in 2019 on CAP Post 2020
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THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY (CAP) - September 2019
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AN COMHBHEARTAS TALMHAÍOCHTA (CAP) - Meán Fómhair 2019
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CAP Consultation Public Meetings Autumn 2019
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Overview of public consultation in May 2018
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Commission CAP Communication
DownloadThe EU is now on the brink of a new CAP programme and this overview describes the direct payments approach in Ireland for the years 2015 to 2019. It includes information on direct payments ceilings, examines the population of farmers from 2005 to present and also details the convergence model, the supports used for generational renewal, and other aspects.
We hosted three virtual town hall meetings to discuss the draft interventions for the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, August 10, 11 and 12.
The events, including presentations, polls and questions and answers sessions, have all been recorded and you can watch back videos from the three nights here on our YouTube Playlist.
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Interventions Overview
Presentation slides delivered at CAP Public Consultation Townhall Webinar – Interventions Overview
DownloadDirect Payments Modelling
Direct Payments Modelling
DownloadNight 1
List of questions submitted by chat at CAP Public Consultation Townhall Webinar Night 1 (Anonymised)
DownloadNight 2
List of questions submitted by chat at CAP Public Consultation Townhall Webinar Night 2 (Anonymised)
DownloadNight 3
List of questions submitted by chat at CAP Public Consultation Townhall Webinar Night 3 (Anonymised)
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