Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2017
214. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the programme for Government commitment to seeking recognition from the European Commission for forgotten farmers as a group with specific disadvantage under the national reserve in the same way that old young farmers are currently provided for; when he expects to complete the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8905/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Regulations governing the National Reserve provides that the two mandatory categories of ‘young farmer’ and ‘new entrant to farming’ must receive priority access to the Reserve. A young farmer is defined as a farmer aged no more than 40 years of age in the year when they first submit an application under the Basic Payment Scheme and who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting that application. A new entrant to farming is defined as a farmer who commenced their agricultural activity during the previous two years and did not have any agricultural activity in their own name and at their own risk in the five years preceding the start of the present agricultural activity.
The Regulations governing the operation of 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 to persons who suffer from a 'Specific Disadvantage'. Support for such categories can only be considered once the two mandatory categories of young farmer and new entrant have been catered for. Decisions regarding the eligibility of farmers such as the Forgotten Farmers under the ‘specific disadvantage’ category of the National Reserve require the approval of the EU Commission and my Department is currently in contact with them.
