Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2015
188. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of the meeting with representatives of the groups of farmers who commenced farming before October 2008, and who are excluded from national reserve (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27261/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my Department met with representatives of the group of farmers to which the Deputy refers on 1st April 2015. At this meeting it was agreed that my Department would carry out analysis of the group of farmers under the age of 40, who established their holdings prior to 2008 and who hold low value entitlements. The analysis carried out by my Department shows that 3,900 farmers fulfil this criteria and the estimated cost of increasing the value of existing entitlements to the National Average for these farmers would be €12.288 million, which is far greater than that anticipated at the time of the meeting. The result of this analysis was notified to the representatives of the group of farmers involved.
