Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Noel Grealish has said that he supports keeping the CAP budget ringfenced from other EU funding streams.

“My view is that it should be ring-fenced and the CAP has been a great source of funding for the young farmers and 4.3% are under the age of 35. That is a huge issue not just for Ireland, but for Europe, as well,” the minister told the Irish Farmers Journal at Sheep 2025.

There have been a number of meetings between the three ministers in the Department on the future of the CAP budget and securing a continuation of dedicated funds for farm schemes is “crucially important” for Irish farmers, Minister Grealish said.

The European Commission is expected to outline its plans for the next long-term EU budget on 16 July amid speculation that the CAP budget could be merged into a larger single budget.