Anne Rabbitte

Issues affecting the MS community to be taken into account by Oireachtas members

Funding secured for 2 pre-budget asks

To propose targeted sectoral support sucklers (€300/cow), sheep (€30/ewe [€40/hill sheep]), tillage (€250/ha for Tillage Survival Scheme in 2024; €400/ha in 2025 [€250/ ha in 2026-2028] for additional [and retained] cereal crops grown), calf rearing (€100/dairy beef calf); beef…

To propose funding for ANCs is increased by a further €50m to bring the total budget for the scheme to €300m.::To propose the eligible area for an improved ANC scheme is increased from the current 34Ha to 45Ha.

To highlight that there needs to be increased flexibility around eligibility criterion (particularly where investments centre on reducing on-farm emissions or improving water quality), additional qualifying investments and acknowledgment that individual investment…

To propose that a Forgotten Farmer scheme to be introduced, with all farmers who were::- A BPS recipient before 1st January 2015;A BPS recipient before 1st January 2015;::- Ineligible for the Young Farmers Installation Scheme under the RDP 2007-2013 because they started farming…

To propose that all farmers (including young farmers and new entrants post 2022) interested in an agri-environmental scheme must be accommodated. Farmers cannot be left without an agri-environmental scheme for the remaining term of the existing CAP programme.::To propose that a…

To propose that grant aid from the Climate and Nature Fund to be made available to all farmers with 70% grant aid for manure/ slurry storage facilities.::To propose that slurry separation equipment is grant aided by 70% to assist in reducing storage capacity requirements on…

To propose provision of capital grant funding to support the construction of viable on-farm Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants and the storage of digestate from AD plants on-farm.::To propose Government-backed finance (similar to current SBCI lending structures) to be provided to…

To propose an extension of the Liming Scheme for 2025 with an increased payment of €20 per tonne and increased eligible volumes.

To propose that, to encourage farmers to grow protein crops such as peas, beans, lupins and combi-crops, rates up to €600/ ha for beans/peas/lupins should be offered with 50% for combi-crops.

To propose that this scheme, which was introduced to promote environmentally sustainable farming methods, and significantly reduce nitrogen fertiliser while maintaining forage yields has proven particularly popular among farmers and should be extended, with increased eligible…

To propose that a stakeholder group must be established to build on the findings of the Enterprise Ireland report on re-establishing a native flour industry.::Capital support grants must be provided to support existing flour mills and those in the development pipeline.

To propose that a fund must be established for a similarly structured scheme to help alleviate the additional cost of production.::To propose that the scheme should be extended to include soft fruit growers (especially those with heated gas) and all mushroom production, given…

To propose that funding for the scheme is increased to €15m (from €10m) to meet the demand for investment, evidenced by the over subscription of the scheme in previous years, particularly last year.::To propose that compensation is provided for the disposal of ash plants in…