Author: Paula Palma Molina (Teagasc)
Editor: Miranda García (AEIDL)
A new case study has been launched in Ireland as part of the Tools4CAP project, focusing on the development of a more robust framework for evaluating direct payment interventions under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This case study comes in addition to the 11 original case studies planned in the project, following a proposal led by Teagasc.
Under the Performance and Monitoring Evaluation Framework (PMEF), all EU Member States are required to report on results using a predefined set of indicators. During meetings between the Irish Tools4CAP partner and representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), it was identified that the current indicator system could be enhanced to support the design and implementation of more precise interventions tailored to the Irish reality. These discussions highlighted the existing scope to strengthen current indicators to more accurately and comprehensively capture the impact of CAP interventions—particularly direct payments—on key areas such as farmer livelihoods, landscape management, and food security. Additionally, DAFM highlighted the need to use existing farm-level datasets (such as the Teagasc National Farm Survey) to develop performance indicators.
What the Irish case study will do
The case study will develop an intervention logic for direct payments interventions —including BISS, CRISS, CIS-YF, and Eco-Schemes from Pillar 1, and ANC from Pillar 2—from Ireland’s 2023–2027 CAP Strategic Plan. It will also propose a new set of performance and effectiveness indicators to support the monitoring and evaluation of these interventions. While some of these indicators will differ from those in the PMEF, they are intended to complement on the existing set by providing additional insights based on data from the NFS (FADN/FSDN database).
Tools and methods used
The study will apply a participatory, multi-level governance decision-making tool from the Tools4CAP inventory to develop a clear intervention logic for direct payments. The goal is to create a comprehensive logic model, validated by DAFM, that captures the numerous benefits of the direct payments interventions, supported by indicators that enable the monitoring and evaluation of the selected interventions.
Who is involved?
This is an effort led by Teagasc researchers with the participation of personnel from the CAP Strategic Plan Division of Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Why it matters
This case study introduces a tool that has not been applied in other Tools4CAP case studies. It supports participatory, multi-level governance and is adaptable across different stages of policy-making—planning, implementation, and evaluation. The tool’s real-life adoption in this case provides a practical demonstration of its use, offering a model that can be adapted to other CAP interventions and Member States’ contexts.
For more details about the Tools4CAP case studies, click here.