Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2015
94. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the specific disadvantage provision, under the national reserve, to cover young farmers who became established since the closure of the previous National Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8642/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Regulations governing the 2015 National Reserve provide that young farmers and new entrants are deemed to be priority categories. A Young Farmer is defined as a farmer aged 40 years or less who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting the Basic Payment Scheme application. Therefore young farmers who commenced their farming activity since 1 January 2010 are included in this category. The Regulations governing the National Reserve also include an optional provision whereby Member States may use the National Reserve to allocate new entitlements or give a top-up on the value of existing entitlements for persons suffering from a “Specific Disadvantage”. Following successful engagement with the EU Commission it has been decided that young farmers who established their holding in 2008 and 2009, who comply with the definition of Young Farmer, but who missed out on both the Young Farmer Installation Scheme and the Young farmer priority category of the National Reserve will be included as a non-priority category under the ‘Specific disadvantage’ provisions of the National Reserve. Applications will be available in early April.
The previous National Reserve closed for applications on 15th May 2012, therefore the eligibility period for the new National Reserve overlaps that of the previous one.
