The government must provide "substantive clarity" to Irish farmers on what contingency measures are being prepared amid Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) uncertainty.

Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan said this is needed in the event of a reduction in CAP funding after 2027.

Deputy Nolan raised the matter with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon through a parliamentary question.

In his response, the minister confirmed that negotiations on the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the post-2027 CAP remain ongoing, but did not outline any specific contingency measures that would be available to farmers in the event of funding cuts.

Negotiations

He said: "Once these negotiations have concluded at European Council level, Ireland’s overall CAP allocation and the national co-financing rates required under the agreed regulations will be clear.

"My department will then work on designing the CAP chapter of the new National and Regional Partnership Plan, taking account of the specific needs and circumstances of Irish farmers and the wider agricultural sector.

"The objective will be to develop a CAP chapter that supports viable farm incomes, food production and food security, environmental sustainability and the vitality of rural communities, while ensuring that the measures are practical and workable for farmers and the implementing authorities."

Viability

Deputy Carol Nolan said that CAP payments remain "absolutely vital" to the viability of thousands of Irish family farms.

"Farmers know that discussions are taking place in Brussels on the future shape and size of the CAP budget, but they are also entitled to know what planning is being done here in Ireland should those negotiations result in reduced funding," Deputy Nolan said.

"Farmers are being told that plans will be developed once negotiations conclude, but there is no indication of what options are currently being examined, what risks have been identified, or how farm incomes would be protected in the event of significant reductions in support."

Uncertainty over CAP funding

Deputy Nolan said that uncertainty over future CAP funding was already causing concern among many farmers who continue to face rising input costs, market volatility and increasing regulatory pressures.

She continued: "Irish agriculture cannot afford to be caught on the back foot.

"If there is even a possibility of a reduced CAP budget, which we know there is, then the government should already be examining every available option to protect family farm incomes and rural communities.

"Waiting until negotiations are complete before beginning serious preparations would leave the sector unnecessarily exposed to delays in delivering contingency-related supports."

Deputy Nolan said she intends to pursue the matter further and seek greater detail from the department regarding any assessments that have been carried out on the potential impact of CAP budget reductions on Irish farmers and rural communities.