Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2015
284. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person who turned 40 years of age on 27 September 2014 will be eligible to apply for entitlements from the national reserve; or if they are prohibited due to age. [2236/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with relevant EU Regulations, priority under the National Reserve will be given to farmers meeting the definition of Young Farmer and New Entrant. In order to be eligible under the Young Farmer category of the National Reserve a farmer must be aged no more than 40 in the first year of submitting an application under the Basic Payment Scheme. The farmer described by the Deputy in this case will turn 41 in the first year of submitting an application under the Basic Payment Scheme, deeming him ineligible as a Young Farmer.
The second National Reserve priority category of New Entrant has no such age restriction. A full list of eligibility criteria for both categories can be found in the Terms and Conditions of the National Reserve on my Department’s website at - http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/nationalreserveandyfs/.
