Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 March 2017
286. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if young farmers will receive a 20% top-up under TAMS as trained young farmers in view of the growing numbers of young farmers who are labouring intensely in the industry but due to various rules and by-laws are not qualifying for many supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10649/17]
View answerYoung Farmers who meet the eligibility criteria for the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme measure under TAMS II benefit from a grant rate of 60% as distinct from the general grant rate of 40% for other TAMS measures.
For the purposes of the TAMS II – Young Farmers’ Capital Investment Scheme Regulation 1305/2013 Article 2 (1)(n) defines “young farmer” as follows:
“Means a person who is not more than 40 years of age at the moment of submitting the application, possesses adequate occupational skills and competence and is setting up for the first time in an agricultural holding as head of that holding.”
The Rural Development Programme contains the following text “Beneficiaries will be active farmers, with the possibility of groups of farmers as beneficiaries, with young farmers (as defined in Article 2(1)(n) of the Rural Development Regulation No 1305/2013) benefiting from an increased rate of aid. In order to ensure that as many young farmers as possible can avail of the enhanced scheme, it is proposed to use the maximum flexibility available and accept applications from young farmers who commenced farming during the five years preceding date of application. Registered Farm Partnerships and Legal Persons will also be potential beneficiaries under the scheme, provided that they meet the eligibility criteria.”
Under this measure therefore, it is required that to meet the eligibility criteria farmers must meet the requirements of set-up for the first time within five years of the date of receipt of an application under this scheme. The date of set-up means the date an applicant first applied for a herd number or other Department identifier.
