Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will have to hobble to the Chamber. I congratulate Mr. Seán Finan on his election. It is great to see a Roscommon man as president of Macra na Feirme. I thank Mr. O'Brien for the work he is doing on this issue which affects 4,000 farmers. A large number of farmers have fallen between the cracks, with one in five farmers under the age of 40 falling into this category. All the farming organisations and public representatives must take some responsibility for this issue and there is an onus on all of us to try to find a final resolution to it.

We must acknowledge that there were problems with the previous national reserve scheme, which was established after the introduction of the single farm payment. We were in the unfortunate position that young progressive farmers who happened to be in a district electoral division with a large cohort of older farmers received a very low top-up under the national reserve if they were lucky enough to be accepted in the scheme. One of the main problems with the old national reserve scheme was that priority was not given to young farmers and new entrants. The problem was noted by the European Court of Auditors, which criticised the lack of priority given to young farmers, and the issue was addressed in the most recent scheme. The difficulty, however, is that this occurred after the horse had bolted and left another group of young farmers isolated.

We need to overcome the current difficulties. Another category of specific disadvantage could be introduced for farmers who were disadvantaged under the old national reserve scheme. While they could theoretically apply for a payment under the scheme, many did not obtain a decent payment, if any, under the national reserve scheme and their position was not even close to being equitable with their peers who are able to access the scheme.

The definition has already been provided because the Minister has stated that, under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, he will give priority to every farmer under the age of 40. However, the rate of grant provided to farmers who are defined as young farmers will differ from that available to those who are not defined as young farmers. The Minister should remove this anomaly rather than creating new ones. Part of the problem is that he has tied his hands and reduced the flexibility available to him by taking the bizarre decision to introduce a 90 ha limit for the national reserve. Given that the average holding is 33 ha, the Minister's decision, as Deputy Tom Barry noted, will mean the national reserve will be paid to retired farmers. We are in the bizarre position that young farmers who are eligible for a payment under the national reserve are applying in respect of additional lands and paying a premium over and above the value of these lands. This premium is what they will receive in the national reserve top-up.

It is wrong that people who have left farming are being given priority under the national reserve scheme. The Minister must address this issue and not only in respect of this specific cohort of young farmers. In the area I come from, one in three farmers is aged over 65 years. We will not change the position unless young farmers are given priority in TAMS and the national reserve scheme, irrespective of how long they have been established.