Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 March 2015
280. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Galway who qualified for entry to the national reserve in 2010 and started farming in 2011 is entitled to consideration for the current young farmer scheme in view of being accepted in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10413/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with relevant EU Regulations, to be eligible under the Young Farmer priority category of the National Reserve an applicant must meet the following conditions:
- S/he is participating in the Basic Payment Scheme in the year in which s/he submits an application;
- S/he is aged no more than 40 years of age at any time during the calendar year in which s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme;
- S/he has successfully completed a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at FETAC level 6 or its equivalent. Alternatively s/he must commit to commencing such a course by 30 September 2016;
- Has a gross off-farm income that does not exceed €40,000 in one of the tax years 2013 or 2014;
- S/he is setting up an agricultural holding for the first time or has set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of the Basic Payment Scheme application.
In order to be eligible for the Young Farmers Scheme an applicant must meet all the eligibility criteria for a young farmer under the National Reserve, with the exception of the off-farm income criteria.
A successful application to the previous Single Payments Scheme National Reserve in 2010 will not deem the above named person ineligible under the new Basic Payment Scheme National Reserve where they meet all other eligibility criteria.
Full details of the Terms and Conditions of the National Reserve are available on my Department’s website at http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/nationalreserveandyfs/ . Alternatively, the individual in question can contact my Department directly at 0761 064 446 or NationalReserveYFS@agriculture.gov.ie and my staff will be glad to provide assistance.
