Suspension of Straw Incorporation Scheme must be reversed – Fine Gael TDs & Senators  

Five Fine Gael TDs and Senators have called on the Minister for Agriculture to reverse his decision to suspend the highly successful Straw Incorporation Scheme.

Deputies David Stanton and John Paul Phelan, and Senators Tim Lombard, John Cummins and Garrett Ahearn today said:

“The sudden decision by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to suspend the Straw Incorporation Scheme without any warning doesn’t make any sense and should be reversed.

“The Straw Incorporation Scheme is a new scheme under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027.

“The scheme follows on from the successful two-year pilot during 2021 and 2022. The fact that many farmers have already chopped straw in line with the scheme and were expecting payment makes the decision to suspend the scheme harder to understand.

“The scheme already has flexibility built in for applications to either fully or partially withdraw, where straw is needed for fodder, which means that farmers have the choice and that this should remain.” 

The Fine Gael Deputies and Senators called on Minister Charlie McConalogue to withdraw the suspension immediately.