Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 May 2012
142 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the entitlements available and the application procedure required for a new entrant into farming with their own herd number and green certificate who is also renting and has stocked a farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23428/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2012 National Reserve consists of one non-mandatory category i.e. New Entrant to farming and caters for farmers who commenced farming for the first time after 17 May 2010. A New Entrant is defined as a farmer who did not pursue any agricultural activity in his/her own name or at his/her own risk in the five years immediately preceding the commencement of the new agricultural activity.
In order to qualify for entitlements from the National Reserve applicants must have a herd number or have applied for a herd number prior to 15 May 2012 and have submitted an application under the 2012 Single payment scheme providing details of the number of eligible hectares farmed. Owned and leased/ rented land is eligible.
In addition, applicants are required to meet certain criteria with regard to income limits and educational qualifications. Off-farm income cannot exceed €30,000 and total income, including farm income, cannot exceed €40,000. Applicants may choose either year ended 31 December 2010 or 31 December 2011for income purposes. With regard to educational qualifications applicants must have obtained a FETAC Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture or its equivalent. The green certificate in farming is regarded as equivalent for this purpose.
Applicants who already own Single Payment entitlements with a total value of €10,000 or more (including entitlements acquired by purchase, inheritance or gift) will not be eligible for an allocation of entitlements from the National Reserve. The maximum payment under the 2012 National Reserve is €5,000.
The National Reserve is replenished from entitlements that remain unused over a period of two consecutive years. Where the value of unused entitlements at the end of 2012 is insufficient to meet the requirements of all eligible applicants under the 2012 National Reserve, a linear cut will be applied to the allocation of successful applicants. Application forms for the 2012 National Reserve are available on the Department website www.agriculture.gov.ie. The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 15th May, 2012.
143 Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if systems have been put in place to deal with the effect that the institution of a milk production partnership has on the REP scheme plans of those involved in view of the fact that the matter appears to be causing considerable delays in payments to farmers in that situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23438/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraArrangements are now in place to facilitate milk partnerships under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS). The situation is that partnerships are eligible to participate in REPS provided there is one REPS agri-environmental plan is in place for all lands owned/leased/rented by all partners involved in the milk partnership.
In the case of the person named, he commenced in REPS 4 in October 2009 and received payment for the first two years of their contract. As a consequence of a change in the system of farming and the creation of a milk partnership by the person named, an adjusted plan was requested. This plan has been received by my Department and officials are currently examining the adjusted plan with a view to an early resolution and payment in respect of 2011.
