Scheme changes needed to ensure full use of RDP funds

IFA national rural development committee chair Joe Brady has called for the Department of Agriculture to ensure the full utilisation of all EU and national funding in the Rural Development Programme (RDP) by making necessary changes to schemes and improving payments in the annual review to the European Commission.

Following a recent meeting with senior Department of Agriculture officials, Brady said in the forthcoming amendment to the RDP 2014-2020, the Department must prioritise a significant increase in the allocation for ANCs, additional items for TAMS grants and the drawdown of maximum funding for sheep.

In relation to ANCs, the IFA told the Department that the additional €25m promised in the Programme for Government must be delivered in the upcoming Budget. Restoring payments to pre-2009 levels must be the priority and the IFA expects the allocation for ANCs to increase to €230m next year.

On TAMS, Brady called for additional items to be included in the schemes such as underpasses, feed bins for all sectors, farm roadways, new buildings for the pig and poultry sectors and rubber slat mats. The IFA also presented a case for an increase in the investment limit for the intensive sectors and an immediate review of standard costings.

The IFA is seeking additional funds under the Sheep Welfare Scheme in Budget 2018, changes to the Knowledge Transfer scheme, the reopening of GLAS to new entrants and improvements to the Organic Scheme.

Brady said that spending on the RDP at the mid-term point is not on course and stressed the necessity for payments to be made on time.