Irish Announce Scottish Derogation Details

The Irish Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, T.D., announced the Irish government’s implementation of the Scottish Derogation Provision of the EU's Basic Payment Scheme. The minister outline how many farmers could not establish their entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme and as such do not hold an Allocation Right under the New Scheme. This would have left many farmers under "significant disadvantage" according to the Minister. The Irish government have stated that they have been able to negotiate the implementation of the "Scottish Derogation" with the EU Commission.

The Direct Payment Regulation includes the option for Member States to allocate payment entitlements to persons who never held entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme but who actively farmed in 2013, the so-called Scottish Derogation.

In line with the support granted under all previous Pillar I schemes, this provision is only available to persons who undertook their agricultural activity within the beef, dairy, sheep or arable sectors. Farmers applying under this measure will be required to provide verifiable evidence of such production during the 2013 scheme year.

The application process for the Scottish Derogation will be made available in April of this year and will be by way of an online facility. Further details will be announced in due course.