Vol. 536 No. 3
146 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will review the eligibility criteria for the installation aid scheme as many young farmers are deemed ineligible due to the fact that their parents participated in the farm retirement scheme prior to January 2002 and at that point no installation aid scheme was available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14200/01]
A scheme of installation aid has been available to eligible young farmers during the complete period of operation of the EU farm retirement schemes.
The installation aid scheme introduced under the National Development Plan, 2000-2006, is open to qualified young farmers who were first set up in farming on or after 1 January 2000. The national scheme of installation aid introduced at the end of 1998 remains available to those young farmers first set up in farming before 1 January 2000, who meet its terms and conditions and who currently wish to make application. Accordingly, I have no plans to review the eligibility criteria of the scheme.
