Coveney backs average payment of top-up

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has come out in favour of the CAP reform 25% top-up of a young farmer’s single farm payment being calculated as 25% of the average payment in the country.

“Otherwise, the 25% top-up for the person who inherits a very high single farm payment would be much higher than that for a person who inherits a very low single farm payment, and I consider this to be unfair.” He said this will be decided as part of the upcoming Irish discussion and debate on the Common Agricultural Policy.

He said the CAP agreement essentially provides an installation aid scheme, which was designed and advocated for by Ireland at the start.