Rural Development Reports
Rural Development Council Report May 2026
Market Report
ACRES
- ACRES payments for 2023-2025 scheme year have been issued to over 99% of applicants. Some issues remain with cases where the applicant is deceased, or contract changes have taken place.
- Balancing payments for the 2025 scheme year commenced mid-April, 1 month earlier than anticipated. €37m was issued to 47,000 participants (88%), with pay runs continuing weekly for cleared cases.
- These payments bring the total amount paid under ACRES since its commencement in 2023 to just over €783 million.
TAMS
| Ranking & Selection Applied T10 | |
| Solar | 10% |
| LESS; DES | 10% |
| TCIS | 50% |
| AWNSS; Organics; PPIS; WF-CIS; YF-CIS | 60% |
| Farm Safety | 100% |
- To date, over 63,000 applications have been submitted across the scheme, with in excess of 44,000 approvals issued to farmers.
| Tranche | Closing Date |
| Tranche 12 | 5th June |
| Tranche 13 | 4th September |
| Tranche 14 | 4th December |
- Payments of more than €152 million have issued in respect of approved investments. Issues re slowed payments in recent weeks have been raised with DAFM.
- Due to the high volume of applications and limited available funding, ranking and selection was introduced from Tranche 9 onwards. Under the ranking and selection process, priority is being given to key investment areas, including farm safety with varying selection rates applied across other sub-schemes.
- Tranche 9 alone received 6,122 applications with T10 receiving 7,906 applications.
- T12 is now open for applications, closing on 5th June.
Direct Payment updates
- Applications for BISS and other area related schemes opened in mid-February. Deadline for applications 15th May 2026.
- C. 60,000 applications made to date. 58,138 applications have been submitted for Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC) and 59,345 for the Eco-Scheme.
- 55,367 applications have been submitted by agents and 5,137 have been submitted by farmers.
Committee Trip to Brussels
- The IFA Rural Development Committee visited Brussels in April to engage with key stakeholders on CAP post-2027 priorities—including Copa-Cogeca, DG AGRI, Irish MEPs, and the Cabinet of Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen
- The strategic importance of CAP to Irish farming was emphasised, as well as strong concerns regarding proposed CAP budget cuts and the risks associated with increased Member State control over CAP delivery.
- The Committee emphasised the need for CAP to prioritise active farmers and food production, with simplified schemes to avoid payment delays and a stronger recognition of food security as a key policy objective.
- Enhanced supports are needed to ensure farm viability, including meaningful measures for young farmers, transitional arrangements, and more accessible, simplified schemes.
Activity since last Council
- The Rural Development Committee met in the Irish Farm Centre
- Members of the Committee travelled to Brussels
- Attended EESC Interim Review of CAP
- Attended CAP Post-2027 Consultative Committee
- Attended CAP AKIS Meeting re Sheep in Athenry
- Attended Farmers Charter of Rights in Portlaoise
- Met with Elisabeth Werner, Director General DG Agri re CAP Post-2027 proposals
- Presented CAP Post-2027 Proposals to National Officers Committee, Commodity Chairs, National Council members
- Briefed Regional Chairs, County Executives, and National Committees on CAP Post 2027 proposals
- Provided feedback as part of Farmers Charter Mid Term Review
- Attended MEP Barry Cowen CAP Event in Mullingar
- Contributed to DAFM CAP Post 2027 Submission
- Assisted members with scheme queries/payments and appeals
Any EU/COPA developments
The IFA actively participates in a number of Copa-Cogeca working groups covering CAP, Direct Payments and Rural Development. Following the publication of the European Commission’s CAP 2028–2032 proposals on 16 July, the IFA has engaged extensively with the COPA Working Party, providing detailed feedback and observations. This work has spanned several key areas, including the European Competitiveness Fund, CAP, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), NRPP, the Performance Framework, and the CMO. The IFA has also contributed to and provided feedback on draft COPA position papers. These positions were finalised and signed off on 16 April, in advance of the COPA Presidency meeting.
Upcoming Issues
- Meeting of CAP Post 2027 Consultative Committee
- IFA Rural Development Committee met on Friday 24th April
- CAP Monitoring Committee Meeting-Field Trip
- Engagement with County Executives re CAP post 2027 Proposals
