Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
477. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process to accommodate farmers that want to withdraw from the young farmers’ scheme; if sanctions or penalties are applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17316/24]
View answerThe Young Farmers Scheme operated from 2015 to 2022 and was replaced under the new CAP from 2023 by the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers.
Under the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, where an applicant is deemed not to be meeting the eligibility criteria of the scheme following an on-the-spot-check, the applicant is excluded from receiving payment for the scheme year concerned. In addition, a penalty is applied which is calculated on the basis of the payment the applicant would have received in the scheme year concerned.
The scheme Terms and Conditions also state that an applicant may not withdraw their application under the scheme in the event of receiving notification of an inspection or by being otherwise notified of an irregularity by my Department.
