Call for Department to clarify crux on entitlements

Under the new CAP reform proposals, according to farming organisations, entitlements will be lost to both the lessor (the original ‘owner’ of the entitlements) and the leasee (the person renting them), unless an entitlement has been claimed in 2013 by the lessor.

An estimated €25m worth of entitlements are leased every year in Ireland, amounting to a significant chunk of farm incomes, across the sector.

However in about half of those cases the lessor, or original owner of the entitlements, had used some of them in 2013 (the reference year) to draw down a Single Farm Payment, essentially keeping them ‘live’ for future payments.

However the remaining €12m to €13m – not used to draw down an SFP in 2013 – are now in danger of being lost to both the lessor and lease – they would end up going back into the National Reserve Pool.

Galway-Mayo IFA Regional Officer, Roy O’Brien, told the Farming Tribune that the issue of entitlements was a very important one for a large tranche of farmers across the western region.

“Entitlements that have been leased over the years in a lot of cases make up a significant part of farmers’ income – we do need to get clarity on this issue as soon as possible,” said Roy O’Brien.

Galway’s IFA National Council Delegate, Pat Murphy, told the Farming Tribune, that a continuation of the current leasing arrangements was very important for farmers across the West.

“We certainly need to keep those entitlements alive, especially in the context of farmers who have been leasing them out over recent years. They are a vital part of farm income in this area,” said Pat Murphy.

 Co. Galway IFA Chairman, Michael Flynn, said that what was needed on the issue now was clarity from the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney.