Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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84. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of discussions to date to reduce the regulatory burden and associated paperwork on farmers participating in different schemes; the proposals to alleviate such burdens at EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38123/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In recent years the conditionality and regulation associated with farming has become increasingly complex. For this reason, I have been and continue to be an advocate for simplification at the Council of Agriculture Ministers. This is both to ensure that the rules associated with farm payments can be applied in a practical way that recognises the realities of farming life and also the challenges for member states administering increasingly complex schemes.

This year, the European Commission introduced some changes to the Common Agricultural Policy regulation in May, with a view to reducing the administrative burden for farmers. These changes cover a number of areas, including simplifications to the basic Conditionality Standards. Some of these will need to be tailored to the Irish situation through an amendment to the CAP Strategic Plan, which will submitted to the European Commission this year. Others elements were implemented immediately, such as an exemption from controls and penalties under the CAP conditionality for 20,000 small farmers farming on less than ten hectares.

The Commission is continuing its work in this area, seeking views of farmers on the administrative burden through online surveys and interviews with farmers and stakeholders. It is proposing further work in 2024 to assess the impact of the CAP new delivery model on administrations and farmers. The Commission will take this work into account in the development of any further simplification proposals in this CAP and for the CAP post 2027.

I am committed to meaningful simplification for farmers, both for the current 5-year CAP programme and for future CAP reform. My Department has already made large scale and impactful improvements in this area, around digital platforms, area monitoring to reduce on-farm inspections, support for farmers through helpdesks and in-person clinics; and we will continue to take every opportunity to make changes to benefit farmers.