Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have dealt with the returning emigrants and the group known as old young farmers. The specific group where we have a difficulty and on which we are trying to progress is the forgotten farmer. The Department estimates there are approximately 3,800 or 3,900 such farmers. The issue here, and the Deputy hit the nail on the head, is that there is no reserve at present. Entitlements flow into the reserve in a couple of ways. Clawback on leases and unused entitlements for two years go into the reserve. At present, there is practically nil in the reserve fund.

There is another option available to put entitlements into the reserve and perhaps the Deputy will give his views on it. It is to top slice everybody's payment. In 2016, for understandable reasons given that it was a very difficult year, all farming organisations, with the exception of Macra na Feirme, said it could not happen. The Deputy might indicate his support for top slicing or cutting everybody's application by 2%, 3% or the required amount to give to applicants under the categories should the forgotten farmers be eligible, and there is an issue with getting that category of disadvantaged farmers over the line in respect of European Commission approval. However, if we get them over the line, the question is how we create an entitlement. I cannot just divvy out the little that might be available. I am obliged under the regulations to give them the equivalent of the national average. That can only realistically be done by top slicing. Perhaps the Deputy might indicate his support for that.

See this speech in context