Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2015
95. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reduce the 90 hectare cap on the National Reserve, to ensure that farmers with an eligible specific disadvantage, can access it on their existing holding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8643/15]
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. 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.
In accordance with the relevant EU Regulation governing the National Reserve, Member States have the option of applying objective criteria in the allocation of entitlements. The process of deciding objective criteria for the National Reserve is carried out in consultation with the Direct Payments Advisory Committee which includes members of the main farming bodies and advisory services.
Having taken into account the views of stakeholders on this Committee, it was decided that a cap of 90 is appropriate to the maximum number of entitlements allocated under the National Reserve.
