Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine statement on Participation Levels of Schemes under CAP

The Minister states:

The CAP Strategic Plan for 2023 to 2027 aims improve the economic, social and environmental sustainability of Ireland's agri-food sector. It does this by supporting viable farm incomes and enhancing competitiveness, by strengthening the socio-economic fabric of rural areas, and by contributing to the achievement of environmental and climate objectives at national and EU levels.

The CAP Strategic Plan or 'CSP' includes 28 different schemes or 'interventions'. CSP interventions range from income support measures to environmental interventions, and include targeted measures to support young farmers and women farmers.

Over 120,000 farmers in Ireland receive CAP supports, with a combination of Direct Payments and targeted Rural Development supports.

A list of all CAP beneficiaries is published each year on my Department's website, including information on geographical distribution. My Department also publishes an annual performance report [or "APR"] each year.

The APR for 2023 is available on the website, and the APR for 2024 will be published shortly, following its approval by the European Commission.

It should be noted that the CAP 'Financial Year' 2024 runs from 16 October 2023 (World Food Day) to 15 October 2024. In Financial Year 2024, over €1.9 billion was spent under the CAP Strategic Plan. This includes €1.2 billion in CAP Pillar 1 direct payments which are fully funded by the EU, and €700 million in co-financed payments under CAP Pillar 2 (rural development and environment) payments.

Payments per beneficiary vary according to farm size, scheme participation and entitlement value for direct payments. The table attached to this reply shows total CSP expenditure in financial year 2024, along with the number of beneficiaries and average payment per beneficiary, broken down by county.

Under the new delivery model for the CAP, there is a monitoring system for performance against each of the CAP objectives. 16 of the CSP result indicators relate to environmental objectives.

The CSP Monitoring Committee meets at least once a year to review progress. It includes representatives from the European Commission, as well as a broad range of Irish stakeholders.

Finally, in regard to funding uptake, I can confirm that Ireland is ahead of other EU Member States in drawing down our share of EU funding in the CSP to date.

Total CAP Strategic Plan schemes, Financial Year 2024

County	Total Expenditure (all CSP schemes) €	Number of beneficiaries	Average per beneficiary €
CARLOW	27,231,996	1,538	17,706
CAVAN	65,811,478	4,792	13,734
CLARE	96,291,319	6,000	16,049
CORK	205,446,621	12,623	16,276
DONEGAL	137,460,402	8,922	15,407
DUBLIN	10,591,631	663	15,975
GALWAY	180,009,415	12,161	14,800
KERRY	133,251,129	7,617	17,485
KILDARE	33,035,926	2,038	16,214
KILKENNY	56,306,599	2,213	17,550
LAOIS	44,068,649	2,798	15,750
LEITRIM	51,723,023	3,447	15,005
LIMERICK	75,539,808	5,033	15,009
LONGFORD	36,333,720	2,389	15,209
LOUTH	22,450,454	1,413	15,889
MAYO	165,016,692	11,463	14,396
MEATH	56,756,247	3,698	15,348
MONAGHAN	45,624,899	4,040	11,293
OFFALY	46,808,280	2,908	16,096
ROSCOMMON	82,148,120	5,685	14,450
SLIGO	57,983,169	3,870	14,983
TIPPERARY	112,091,305	6,652	16,851
WATERFORD	41,390,044	2,273	18,209
WESTMEATH	48,952,490	3,048	16,061
WEXFORD	63,888,666	3,895	16,403
WICKLOW	41,099,563	2,131	19,287

Total: €1,937,311,647 across 124,304 beneficiaries. Average per beneficiary: €15,585

Note that financial year 2024 runs from 16 October 2023 to 15 October 2024.