Northern Ireland CAP Consultation

The Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture and Rural Developed (DARD) has launched its CAP Consultation.  This can be found at http://www.dardni.gov.uk/index/consultations/current-consultations/consultation-policy-options-cap-reform.htm.  The deadline for responses is 17^th January.  As with most of these ‘consultations’ there is a clear steer on what the administration intends to do.  Some interesting proposals include a re-grant of entitlements in 2015 despite the province already being on a regional system – this is to deal with the problems caused by the ‘conacre’ short-term grazing system.  Northern Ireland is likely to only have one payment region.  It does not intend to equalise all entitlement values by 2019, instead the gap between low-value entitlements and the regional average will be closed by 50% over 5 years.  The three standard EU greening requirements will be used.  The administration appears minded not to re-couple any support, but does leave the issue open.  It could well make use of the Areas with Natural Constraints top-up.  It seems likely that there would be a five hectare minimum claim size and payments would be capped at a maximum of €150,000 (which would affect five claimants).