Young Farmers Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 February 2017

Thursday, 9 February 2017

Ceisteanna (233)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

233. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated number of young farmers who have and do not have a green certificate, who are under 40 years of age but have been farming for more than five years and who are not permitted from accessing measures under CAP for young farmers, including being able to apply for the national reserve and for top-up entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6591/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In accordance with EU regulations governing the National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme, a young farmer is defined as a farmer aged no more than 40 years of age in the year when s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme and who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting that application.  This definition applies to all Member States and my Department has no discretion with regard to its implementation in Ireland.  The status of ‘young farmer’ introduced under the reformed Common Agricultural Policy is designed specifically to assist young farmers in the initial stages of establishing a farming enterprise.

My Department does not hold records of farmers under the age of forty farming for more than five years who do or do not hold green certs except where that information has been submitted by individual farmers as a requirement under an application for a particular scheme.