Macra chief urges scheme overhaul

MACRA NA FEIRME president Colm Markey has called on Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan to backdate the new Installation Aid Scheme to cover new entrants who set up in farming in 2006.

He said the scheme is distinct from all the other schemes in that the date the farmer is deemed “set up” in farming determines whether they will qualify for the new scheme or the old scheme.

In every other scheme the date of the farmer’s application determines what scheme they qualify for. This means that young farmers who apply for Installation Aid in 2007 may only qualify for the old rate of payment.

Mr Markey said the Department of Agriculture and Food has ruled out changing the reference date to the date of application as it is not permitted under EU law.

Therefore, the only way the matter can be resolved is to increase the rate of payment under the current scheme so that farmers who set up during 2006 receive the new rate of €15,000.

Mr Markey said he pointed this out to the minister prior to social partnership being agreed and was assured it would be looked at favourably.

“There are very few ways the Government can assist farmers without having to get EU clearance that it does not constitute state aid. The department must move to allow new entrants receive the higher €15,000 rate of payment,” he said.