Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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636. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the decisions taken at the European Council meeting of 17 July 2020 that will impact financial supports for agriculture in Ireland. [18258/20]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s key objective throughout the negotiations on the post-2020 EU budget has been the retention of a sufficient budget for CAP post-2020.  This is particularly important in light of the ongoing needs of farmers, including the requirements of higher levels of environment and climate ambition set out in the new EU Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies. 

Despite challenging negotiations, Ireland has succeeded in the  objective to maintain the CAP budget for the next 2021-2027 period for the farming sector and rural development, reversing the proposed damaging cuts.  The CAP 2021 - 2027 is expected to be some €387 billion in current prices and this represents a small increase on the CAP budget allocation for the 2014 – 2020 period.  Detailed examination of the package is ongoing. 

Proposal for the 2021 - 2027 Multiannual Financial Framework were launched in 2018 and negotiations have been ongoing since then.  The agreement at European Council level brings this process another step forward.  The final stage will be agreement with the European Parliament which is hoped to be reached in October 2020.   

In recognition of the particular structural challenges facing our agricultural sector the package agreed includes a special additional allocation of €337 million for Ireland. This national allocation has been made from the rural development element of the traditional MFF budgetary framework.

Furthermore, under the specific COVID-19 Recovery Instrument, the Next Generation EU fund, a further allocation of funding to support the sector is expected to provide a significant allocation of €194 million to Irish Agriculture under this instrument.

The Government’s position has always been that a strong and properly funded CAP is a fundamental requirement if we are to continue to support the sector. I therefore welcome this agreement which represents a positive outcome for Ireland.