"In truth, the problem with our Rural Development Programme (RDP) is that our estimate is that we will overspend by €106m over the lifetime of the programme," Minister Creed told the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee this Tuesday. Taking into account further liability under the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme, this could rise to €300m, he added.

This is in direct opposition to the IFA's estimates reported in the Irish Farmers Journal last week, which showed that RDP schemes such as TAMS and Knowledge Transfer would leave €106m in unspent funds available for other forms of support to farmers over the 2014-2020 period.

Liability

One example that came up in Tuesday's debates were agri-environmental schemes, with Fianna Fáil spokesperson on agriculture Charlie McConalogue saying that former minister Simon Coveney had announced €1.4bn for GLAS at the start of the scheme but under €1bn was on course to be spent.

Minister Creed replied that the allocation was for over €900m for GLAS and over €300m for liabilities carried over from schemes under the previous CAP (REPS and AEOS).

He added that it wouldn't be prudent to incur potential large liabilities to be carried over after 2020 because the level of funding for the next CAP is uncertain after Brexit.

Fodder supply is 'individual farmers’ responsibility' – Creed

€106m available for disadvantaged farmers

Schemes oversubscribed by up to €300m – Creed

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has countered claims that money earmarked for farm payments will remain unused, with his own Department's estimates showing an overspend.