Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
1422. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports or entitlements available to young farmers that meet the eligibility criteria under the young farmers scheme but hold no active entitlements; his plans to support these young farmers or new entrants; if he will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1132/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the EU Regulations governing the operation of the Young Farmers Scheme, payment under the scheme is calculated based on the number of eligible entitlements activated by the successful applicant. The person named submitted a 2016 Young Farmers Scheme application but was not successful as he did not hold any entitlements.
The National Reserve provides for an allocation of entitlements to eligible applicants under the two mandatory categories of ‘young farmer’ and ‘new entrant to farming’. In 2015 the National Reserve fund was based on a 3% cut to the Basic Payment Scheme financial ceiling and provided some €24 million. Some 6,000 applicants were allocated entitlements under the 2015 National Reserve.
There was no National Reserve in 2016 as all available funding had been utilised under the 2015 scheme. In order to provide for a National Reserve in 2017 funding is required to replenish the Reserve. EU Regulations governing the scheme provide that funding for the replenishment of the National Reserve may be obtained by means of surrender of entitlements that remain unused by farmers for two consecutive years and by clawback derived following the sale of entitlements without land. It is envisaged that funding derived from these two sources in 2017 will be very limited. The Regulations also provide the option for Member States to apply a linear cut to the value of all farmers’ entitlements to fund the National Reserve. Consultation between Department officials and the Direct Payments Advisory Committee comprising members of the main farming organisations, agricultural education and farm advisory bodies takes place annually as part of the decision making process for the National Reserve. Consultation regarding the 2017 National Reserve is due to take place in the coming weeks. Decisions in relation to the National Reserve for 2017 will be considered once the position on potential funding has been established.
The applicant in question may also be entitled to apply under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II provided that he meets the eligibility criteria as follows:
(i) are more than 18 years and not more than 40 years of age at the date of submitting the application form;
(ii) meet the requirements of set-up for the first time within five years of the date of receipt of an application under this Scheme;
(iii) own or have leasehold title to the site on which it is proposed to carry out the development (subject to (v));
(iv) have a minimum of 5 hectares owned and/or leased or rented which have been declared under the Basic Payment Scheme or equivalent in the year of application or preceding year or in the case of intensive enterprises, generate a minimum of 20 production units from farming.
(v) fulfill the requirement regarding occupational skill and competence as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the terms and conditions of the scheme,on the date of application or within 36 months from the date of issue of Department approval to the applicant to commence works.
(vi) in the case of a Young Farmer farming with others, a declaration is required that the Young Farmer exercises effective and long term control over the partnership or legal person in terms of decisions related to management, benefits and financial risks either solely or jointly together with other members of the partnership.
The terms and conditions for all TAMS schemes are available online at www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/tams. TAMS II Applications must be submitted online through www.agfood.ie.
