Mr. John Keane:

Yes, but if the boxes are being ticked for a ring-fenced fund it is easier. If someone ticks the boxes for the whole fund and they are competing with older, more mature businesses, it is more difficult. The reality is that we cannot tick the boxes. The issue of old young farmers has not been resolved. It was not resolved under CAP. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to resolve the issue under CAP. We have worked and lobbied extremely hard with the Minister and the Department last year on this. We were informed that it was going to be addressed under the CAP and that there was capacity to do it. There are three or four different supports that were missed out for those young farmers. They also missed out on access to the young farmers scheme, the national reserve, installation aid and grant support. Those are three different supports that have been missed out on by those young farmers.

We have had no further details, despite engagements with the Minister and the Department on this issue. We have no detail in terms of what is being provided or a timeline for when that is going to be provided.