Rural Development Council Report September 2024

Scheme Updates

ACRES

• Approximately 44,000 farmers were accepted into Tranche 1; and approx. 9,000 into Tranche 2.
• The scheme has experienced significant delays in payments, approvals, and lacked transparency in scoring, causing frustration for farmers.
• Advance payments due in November were delayed; about 19,000 farmers received them in December, mainly those in ACRES General.
• The remaining 25,000 Tranche 1 applicants received an interim payment of €4,000 or €5,000, funded by the National Exchequer in February 2024. 
• Balancing payments began issuing in June; 36,410 (80.8%) have received theirs, while 8,650 (19.2%) are still awaiting payment (*Figures correct as of 23^rd August)
• Payment runs are issuing every two weeks, with DAFM aiming to complete all balancing payments by the end of September.
• Following the calculation of the balancing ACRES payments for 2023 to date, 5,787 participants (comprising of 1,039 General and 4,748 Co-operation participants) have been overpaid due to the interim payment, to a total amount of €10.06 million (See table below) 
• Many of the outstanding cases are typically more complex cases (contract transfers; probate etc) and/or where outstanding DAFM issues / clarifications have not yet been received / addressed. 
• The biggest issue however with outstanding cases appears reconciling areas scored (2022) & eligible area applied for under BISS (2023). Once cleared, should release a good block of outstanding payments in the coming weeks. 
• No interest/penalty to apply and/or requirement to repay within 1 month on receipt of letter per other BISS schemes.  
• See Hill Farming Report for more info. 

% Participants with Overpayments
Less than or equal to €100 *	5.4%
€101 to €2000	62.4%
€2001 to €4000	28.3%
Greater than €4001	3.9%

* An overpayment of €100 or less will not be recouped and these participants will not receive correspondence in this regard.

TAMS

• Payments under TAMS 3 have commenced, and continue to issue on a weekly basis as claims are submitted in respect of completed investments. Tranche 4 open for applications until Friday, September 6, while tranche 5 will close on Friday, December 6, 2024
• DAFM appear to be getting on top of approvals, and expect to be back to traditional timelines by September. Approx €1-1.5m in payments are being issued weekly 
• DAFM have announced the opening of a dedicated Nutrient Importation Storage Scheme (NISS) of now available under TAMS 3. The scheme will provide a 70% grant rate for additional storage facilities for managing the importation of organic fertilisers. The NISS will have its own dedicated investment ceiling of €90,000 per holding solely for nutrient importation storage. More details, along with T&C’s are available at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/d3cf8-nutrient-importation-storage-scheme/
• There has also been changes to the T&C’s of LESS. From 1 January 2024, the Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) T&C’s deem applicants farming at or above 150 kg.N per hectare in the year of application, or the preceding year, ineligible to apply for LESS equipment. (as defined under Statutory Instrument 113/2022). This retrospective change will allow access to the LESS scheme for all farmers farming up to 170 kg.N per hectare, thus allowing relevant applications received from 1 January 2024 to become eligible for LESS investments.
• Latest statistics on TAMS approvals (as of August 23^rd 2024):

No. Tranche 1 applications		Approved	Tranche 2	Approved	Tranche 3	Approved
Solar Scheme	751	651	738	511	326	127
Dairy Investment Scheme	235	207	217	171	89	38
Pig & Poultry	49	47	46	41	38	10
Farm Safety	2,050	1,766	3,113	2,657	1,055	547
LESS	551	536	756	694	318	0
Tillage Investment Scheme	445	399	444	398	216	114
Animal Welfare, Nutrient Management Storage	2,494	2,137	2,200	1,822	998	500
Organics – CIS	928	859	634	574	321	195
Women Farmer – CIS	259	216	438	349	170	83
Young Farmer – CIS	441	402	524	422	268	110
Total	8,203	7,220	9,110	7,639	3,802	1724

National Liming Programme

• A further extension has been granted for spreading of lime purchased under the scheme to 31^st October 2024.

Activity since last Council

• The Rural Development Management Committee held an online meeting to discuss the Pre-Budget Submission.
• The Chairman of the Rural Development Committee joined the IFA delegation in meeting the Minister for Agriculture to outline some of the Committees priorities. 
  • TAMS: investment ceilings and reference costs should be revised upwards, and costings updated at least annually. Additional items (dribble bars; rubber mats, hydraulic-operated crushes, safety cages when working at heights and quad gates)
  • ACRES: All farmers interested in agri-environment scheme should be accommodated. All farmers in ACRES must be paid without delay. There must be complete transparency and a comprehensive breakdown of payments provided, alongside opportunity for farmers, through applications for Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) and Landscape Actions (LAs), to fully recoup available funds as soon as possible, with same, paid in advance, to avoid further financial burdens on farmers
• A new Farmers Charter of Rights 2023-2027 was agreed and published. The Charter moves from negotiation stage to monitoring Stage. Dr Sean Brady has been appointed as Independent Chair of Charter Monitoring Committee). IFA has called for the monitoring committee to be stood up as soon as possible so issues re ACRES & TAMS can be further highlighted and addressed.
• IFA secured a number of positive additions in the new Charter, including:
  • Farm payments will return to their traditional payment schedule for 2024
  • A framework for TAMS approvals was agreed, starting from the closing date of each Tranche
  • Inspections in the main will be announced, with inspectors required to provide a written preliminary report before leaving the farm, rather than in the subsequent days, as originally proposed by the Department
  • The Department has committed to fully engaging with farm organisations in the development of schemes and discussing any subsequent changes to Terms & Conditions in a timely manner.
  • In circumstances where scheme payment deadlines/approvals will not be met in line with agreed Charter deadlines, the Charter Monitoring Committee will be convened and corrective strategies and options provided to quickly resolve issues.
• The Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024 passed through its second stage in the Dáil. IFA insist that the panel needs to be established as soon as possible and its scope extended to all cases, not just those in relation to the law and/or new facts being presented
• IFA met with DAFM officials to discuss ACRES issues. 
• The Rural Development Committee organised a Farm Walk on the farm of Roisin & Fay in Co.Westmeath. The Fays are part of the Farming for Water EIP. Farming for Water EIP and Teagasc Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) members were in attendance.
• IFA attended a meeting of the CAP Stakeholder Forum online. 

COPA Developments

• IFA continue to participate on a number of COPA groups, including the CAP Working Group, Strategic Dialogue on Future of Agriculture, CDG on Rural Solidarity 

Upcoming events

• The Rural Development Committee will meet in the Irish Farm Centre on 12^th September
• IFA will attend the next meeting of the Strategic Dialogue on Future of Agriculture.
• IFA will attend an online meeting re the re-design of the Agfood portal
• Continue engagement with DAFM on ACRES and other farm schemes
  • Farm Payments due to commence from mid-September