Exchequer agri-funds reduced

IFA analysis of Budget 2015 shows that the net exchequer contribution to agriculture for 2015 is reduced, with the 2% budgeted expenditure increase by the Department of Agriculture in 2015 is due largely to a significant increase in EU funding through the Rural Development Programme.

Total funding of €150m for agri-environment schemes (REPS, AEOS, GLAS) in 2015. is a reduction of €34m on the 2014 allocation.

Funding for the Areas of Natural Constraint (formerly DAS) has been maintained at é195m.