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Gnáthamharc

Basic Payment Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018

Tuesday, 20 March 2018

Ceisteanna (736)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

736. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the rationale behind changes announced to the eligibility criteria for the national reserve under the new entrants category to those outlined in the 2017 national reserve; if this eliminates persons that commenced farming in 2015 and those that completed courses of education in agriculture during 2017; his further views on whether this change is unfair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12591/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

For the purposes of the ‘new entrant’ priority category of the National Reserve a ‘new entrant’ is defined as follows:

- must have submitted a valid Basic Payment Scheme application in the year of application to the National Reserve;

- must have commenced the present agricultural activity within the two calendar years prior to the application under the National Reserve;

- did not have any agricultural activity in his/her own name and at his/her own risk in the five years preceding the start of the present agricultural activity.

Successful applicants under the National Reserve are also required to have completed an agricultural educational qualification at FETAC Level 6 or equivalent at the closing date for submission of application under the scheme, and have an off-farm income of not greater than €40,000 in either of the two most recent tax years.  

With regard to the requirement for applicants under the ‘new entrant’ category of the National Reserve to have commenced agricultural activity within the two calendar years prior to the application to the National Reserve, applicants under the 2017 National Reserve must have commenced their agricultural activity in the 2015 calendar year or later, while applicants under the 2018 National Reserve must have commenced their agricultural activity in the 2016 calendar year or later.

Question No. 737 answered with Question No. 708.
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