Thomas Gould
Question:49. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals he intends to bring forward to support young farmers as part of the CAP strategic plan. [50912/21]
View answerThursday, 21 October 2021
Questions (49)
Written answers
At the outset, I reaffirm my commitment to supporting young farmers and generational renewal.
Details of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 are not yet complete and consultations with stakeholders are continuing.
The EU proposals for the new CAP from 2023 include provision for supports for young farmers. With regard to direct payment supports under the next CAP, the Department proposes to operate a National Reserve under the new CAP from 2023 to prioritise access to payment entitlements for the categories of young farmers and new farmers.
The Department also proposes to operate the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers from 2023 which will build on the success of the Young Farmers Scheme in place since 2015.
The proposed National Reserve from 2023 would provide successful applicants with an allocation of payment entitlements on eligible land on which they hold no entitlements and/or a top up to the national average entitlement value on existing entitlements they hold where these entitlements have a value below the national average entitlement value.
The proposed Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers would provide successful applicants with a payment per eligible hectare, subject to a maximum of 50 hectares, for a maximum term of payment of five years. There is provision in the proposed regulatory structure for the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers to allow Young Farmers Scheme participants who have not reached the end of their term of eligibility under the scheme to roll over into the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers for the remainder of their five-year term of eligibility.
With regard to supports for young farmers under Pillar II of the new CAP, the proposed new On-Farm Investment Scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan will address key environmental objectives through the provision of grant aid for new capital investments that contribute to environmental, farm safety or animal health and welfare objectives. It is being proposed to provide a higher payment to qualified Young Farmers. A continuation of the grant aid rates of between 40 to 60 % are currently being proposed.
The outline of any schemes supported under the next CAP and details of the Terms and Conditions for eligibility under such schemes will be set out once Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan is completed and approved.