Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2019
552. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the situation regarding young farmers who are in a farming partnership will be clarified regarding their eligibility to apply for entitlements on an annual basis from the national reserve in cases in which the young farmers have their own herd number with an off-farm income which is less than €40,000 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6842/19]
View answerThe Terms and Conditions of the National Reserve set out details of the determination of off-farm income for applicants farming as part of a Registered Farm Partnership. Under such applications it is the off-farm income of all participants on the herd number to which the young farmer(s) is associated that is considered in determining off-farm income.
With regard to the case on which details have been provided, an application to the 2018 National Reserve was submitted to my Department on 8th May 2018. This application was unsuccessful and the applicants were notified of the outcome in writing on 24th January 2019 and offered an opportunity to submit an appeal of the decision.
The appeal now submitted by the Agricultural Consultant acting on behalf of the applicants in this case will be processed. Once the appeal has been finalised the applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome.
