Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 2

Written Answers. - Common Agricultural Policy.

David Stanton

Question:

95 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the possibility of young trained farmers stacking entitlements in order to increase income and maintain viability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29300/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

Article 43(4) of European Council Regulation No. 1782/2003 detailing the outcome of the CAP mid-term review provides that payment entitlements per hectare may not be modified save as otherwise provided. The present position is that entitlements may only be modified in cases where livestock entitlements are already established and the farmers concerned qualify for the decoupled dairy premium in 2005. In such cases the value per hectare of the decoupled dairy premium is added to the value of the livestock entitlements without the necessity of having additional eligible hectares.

I secured a concession in the context of the Council regulation whereby young farmers who commenced farming during one or two of the reference period years will have their entitlements based on the one or two years average rather than over the three year average as is the general rule. In addition, new entrants to farming who commenced their farming activity after 31 December 2002 will have priority access to the national reserve for entitlements.

The position with regard to the possibility of young farmers stacking entitlements will be raised in the context of the discussions on the Commission's detailed rules. It should be noted that while the Council regulation governing the single payment scheme has now been published the Commission detailed rules regulation is unlikely to be published for some weeks. Negotiations on the detailed rules regulation will then get under way at official level and it is unlikely that final agreement will be reached before April 2004.

Question No. 96 answered with Question No. 76.