Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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433. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government to propose a lowering of the cap on basic payments; and the timetable for implementation of this action. [53629/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment that, 'in the context of the EU mid-term review of the CAP, we will propose a lowering of the cap on Basic Payments, from €150,000 to €100,000”. However, on the basis of the current legal framework, it is not possible to reduce the payment ceiling below €150,000.

In June this year Commission proposals for the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) were published. These provide for a range of capping options. The new proposals include the reduction of direct payments of more than €60,000 on a sliding scale up to €100,000, with a 100% cut applying to payments in excess of €100,000.

These proposals are subject to ongoing negotiation at EU level. The final shape of the proposals will not be known until the negotiations are concluded.