Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2021
274. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the EU legislation that prohibits the extension of TAMS funding at a 60% grant rate to women over 55 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56213/21]
View answerSubject to the approval of the European Commission, it is proposed under a On-Farm Capital investment scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) that a general grant rate of 40% will be available for eligible investments. It is also proposed in CSP that eligible female farmers, who meet the eligibility criteria may qualify for grant aid at a rate of 60%.
The proposed eligible female farmers are those:
- Aged between 18 years of age and 55 at any time during the calendar year in which she submits an application for support;
- Meet the conditions for being head and having control of the holding;
- Meets the requirements for the appropriate training and/or skills required at the time of application.
Applicants who do not meet the criteria above will remain eligible to submit an application under the On-Farm Capital investment scheme at the standard rate of 40%.
The On-Farm Capital investment scheme, as is the case with all proposals under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), is in the process of development and is subject to the formal approval of the European Commission. The public consultation is ongoing and I will be reviewing the proposal once that closes in advance of the submission of the proposal to the Commission.
