Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 June 2013

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Ceisteanna (194)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

194. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the level and nature of assistance available from his Department for a young farmer less than 30 years old who has commenced drystock heifer and sheep farming and who rents approximately 40 acres of land and has attained the necessary educational qualifications by way of attending the relevant courses and being awarded the appropriate certificates; if such a person can now apply to the National Reserve to secure vital entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28351/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A National Reserve has operated under the current Single Payment Scheme since 2005. However, since the National Reserve is funded solely from the reversion of unused entitlements, and as the number of unused entitlements has been decreasing in recent years, it is not possible to operate a National Reserve for the 2013 and 2014 scheme years.

It is envisaged that the new CAP regime that will apply from the 2015 scheme year will include provisions for both young farmers and for farmers who have recently commenced their agricultural activity. A new National Reserve will be constituted which can cater for these groups although it is likely that other criteria such as educational qualifications will also be applied.

I can assure you that the interests of young farmers are of primary importance to me and we have strongly represented such interests at the ongoing negotiations on CAP reform. However as the final stage of the negotiations involves reaching agreement between the three European Institutions i.e. the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the Commission, it is too early to speculate on how the final agreement will affect individual farmers.

Barr
Roinn