Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
400. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on eligibility criteria for the complementary income support for young farmers; if applicants must meet the educational criteria or if flexibility can be allowed where an individual holds a level 6 qualification in a subject other than agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20283/24]
View answerTo qualify for the Complementary Income Support for Young farmers, a young farmer is defined as having a maximum age limit of 40, meet the conditions for head of the agricultural holding, and hold the appropriate training and/or skills required.
For young farmer support schemes administered by my Department, the appropriate training and/or skills are defined as a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at Level 6 or equivalent on the National Framework of Qualifications. This requirement for the standard of appropriate training or skills in the definition of a young farmer was approved as part of the overall approval of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan by the European Commission.
The full list of recognised agricultural educational qualifications at Level 6 or equivalent is set out in the Appendix to the Terms and Conditions of the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers.
Where a qualification is not included as part of this Appendix, an applicant can apply to Teagasc for a letter of equivalence to confirm that the qualification held by the individual fulfils the requirements.
