Mr. Seán Finan:

We have discussed this issue with the agriculture Commissioner, Mr. Hogan, the Minister and his officials and we are involved with CESA, the European Council of Young Farmers. The mandatory approach to young farmer measures was very important for Macra na Feirme because in the case of non-mandatory measures there was a tendency to withdraw schemes when budgets came under pressure.

We understand the potential cost involved in addressing this issue would be of the magnitude of €12 million, although we do not know how many of the 3,800 farmers concerned have fulfilled the educational, income and other requirements of the schemes.

Deputy Ferris referred to my comment on having a rolling reference year. We wanted to establish a principle that payment would be based on farming activity and effort, which could include stocking rates or whatever is the level of a farmer's activity. It would also take into account disadvantaged area status, which would overcome the issues Deputy Barry raised in respect of land mobility and access to a single farm payment.

Deputy Barry also referred to the new interim parent partnerships. While this is not a subject for discussion today, it is an issue. Some 249 young farmers are in this category, having entered milk production partnerships. As they have never activated a herd number, they were not deemed to be established by the Department by entering the partnership with their families. Now, when they activate a herd number, they are not deemed eligible, as young farmers, for the young farmer schemes, national reserve scheme or TAMS grants. This anomaly needs to be addressed.