New criteria to determine EU funds for less favoured areas by 2014

NEW criteria for deciding what land is eligible for EU funding under the less favoured areas system could change the amount of money farmers receive, but it will not be introduced until 2014.

More than three quarters of Irish agricultural land is classified as being a less favoured area (LSA) and ensures 100,000 farmers are eligible for a share of the country’s e3.38 billion fund under the rural development programme 2007–2013.

The amount farmers receive per hectare of utilised agricultural land varies widely from e25 to e200 per hectare at present depending on the country, with farmers in Luxembourg receiving the most.