Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) plans to share data with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to stop farmers being paid twice for the same solar installation, and has opened a public consultation on the proposed data-sharing agreement.

DAFM grant-aids solar equipment on farms, while SEAI runs similar supports for the wider non-domestic sector. The two schemes currently operate separately, so every earlier payment has to be checked each time to prevent double funding. Because SEAI handles far more applicants and payments, DAFM proposes to pass its list of grant payments and its applications due for approval or payment to SEAI, which can then check for duplicates before funds are released. The department says it is "required to verify" that equipment it funds has not already been paid for under the SEAI scheme.

Where duplicate funding is found, DAFM will apply a 100% penalty to the solar investment. The applicant will get a letter explaining the penalty and the right to have the decision reviewed by the department; if the penalty stands, it can be appealed to the Agricultural Appeals Office. Where SEAI identifies double funding, it will also write to the applicant setting out the amount that may be recouped and the rights of review and appeal.

The department argues the arrangement would cut paperwork and inspections. SEAI could target its inspections at projects that need checking rather than every project that might also qualify for DAFM funding, and applicants already funded by SEAI would need no additional desk or on-site checks.

The consultation on the draft agreement between DAFM and SEAI is open until October 14, 2026, with details on the department's website. Francess McDonnell reported the proposal for Agriland.

Source: Agriland