Johnny Guirke
Ceist:305. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals he plans to bring forward to support young farmers as part of the state CAP Strategic Plan. [51450/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 20 October 2021
Ceisteanna (305)
Freagraí scríofa
Details of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 are still in consultation with stakeholders.
However, with regard to direct payment supports, the Department proposes to operate a National Reserve from 2023 to prioritise access to payment entitlements for young farmers and new farmers. This
would provide successful applicants with an allocation of payment entitlements on eligible land on which they hold no entitlements and/or a top up to the national average entitlement value on existing entitlements they hold where these entitlements have a value below the national average entitlement value.
The Department also proposes to operate the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers from 2023, which will build on the success of the Young Farmers Scheme that has been in place since 2015. This would provide successful applicants with a payment per eligible hectare, subject to a maximum of 50 hectares, for a maximum term of five years.
There is also provision to allow Young Farmers Scheme participants who have not reached the end of their term of eligibility under the scheme to roll over into the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers for the remainder of their 5-year term of eligibility.
With regard to supports for young farmers under Pillar II of the new CAP, the proposed new On-Farm Investment Scheme will address key environmental objectives through the provision of grant aid for new capital investments that contribute to environmental, farm safety or animal health and welfare objectives. It is proposed that a higher rate of grant aid would be available to qualified Young Farmers.