Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
880. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a second sibling is entitled to an allocation in circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3548/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Basic Payment Scheme National Reserve was introduced in 2015 and provides for an allocation of payment entitlements to successful applicants under the two mandatory categories of ‘Young Farmer’ and ‘New Entrant to Farming’.
The operation of the National Reserve is governed by the relevant EU Regulations. The European Commission has advised that, in line with the regulatory provisions governing the operation of the scheme, an applicant may only benefit once under the Basic Payment Scheme National Reserve. As these EU Regulations apply to all Member States, Ireland has no discretion with regard to their implementation.
In order to be considered eligible under the young farmer category of the National Reserve, the applicant must be setting up as the head of holding for the first time or have set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of the Basic Payment Scheme application. In the example provided, the date of commencement of the first young farmer is deemed to be the date of setting up of the holding for the purpose of eligibility under the National Reserve, and it was on this basis the National Reserve allocation was made.
Where a young farmer sibling subsequently joins the herd number, this holding is still regarded as having set up for the first time based on the date the first young farmer joined the herd number. The addition of the sibling to the herd number in such a situation would not meet the criteria of setting up for the first time and the second young farmer joining the herd number can not make the entity eligible for a second National Reserve allocation. As this holding has already received a benefit from the National Reserve, it not eligible for a further allocation.
