Government pressed to lock in dedicated CAP funding for young farmers
Ambition is "not enough" when it comes to future Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) funding for young farmers, the president of Macra warned today (Tuesday, June 23).
Josephine O’Neill, whose organisation represents more than 16,000 young farmers and rural young people across Ireland, said it is vital there is a pipeline of future funding.
The Macra president added: "The European Commission has recognised the urgency of generational renewal and has made ambitious promises in the CAP proposals.
"Without legally binding ring-fenced funding, there is no guarantee that these commitments will translate into meaningful supports for young farmers on the ground."
Last week the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon acknowledged that there are challenges when it comes to the next CAP budget.
Minister Heydon Heydon has pledged that Ireland will use its presidency of the Council of the EU to try to secure increased funding for CAP.
Ireland will hold the presidency of the council from July 1 to December 31, and during that time the EU budget from 2028 to 2034 - and therefore the CAP budget for the same period - will be top of the agenda.
Young farmers
However O’Neill said if Europe is serious about generational renewal "then the budget must reflect that ambition".
"Ireland’s EU Presidency presents a unique opportunity to ensure that young farmers are not left behind in future CAP negotiations.
"Minister Heydon must fight to secure a protected CAP budget for young farmers and generational renewal," she added.
The Macra president has again called for the introduction of installation aid for young farmers in Ireland.
"Installation aid provides young farmers with the starter capital needed to invest in stock, machinery, land and infrastructure at the beginning of their careers.
"It is simply unacceptable that Ireland is now the only country in the European Union failing to provide this support to its young farmers," O'Neill said.
She believes that the Irish government should use the presidency to "deliver a level playing field" for young Irish farmers.
The Macra president said young farmers in Ireland "deserve the same opportunities as their European counterparts".
