Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 83: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if incentives and schemes will stay in place to encourage young farmers to remain in farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11995/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have made provision of €9.75m in 2009 to meet current commitments under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and the preceding equivalent schemes.

The Deputy will also be aware of my ongoing support for young farmers and new entrants to farming, most notably in the dairy sector. For example, the allocation of milk quota to new entrants and young farmers has been a feature of the milk quota system for a number of years. Preferential access to milk quota from a specially created priority pool was available under the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme until 2006, and the same priority pool arrangement is a feature of the current Milk Quota Trading Scheme. Indeed, the quantities of quota available to new entrants — whether farming on their own or in partnership with parents — have been considerably increased since the introduction of the latter scheme in 2007.

In addition, the changes I announced last summer to the milk quota regulations are facilitating greater participation in Milk Production Partnerships, which is benefiting new entrants and young farmers in particular. There is now no limit on the numbers that can participate in a New Entrant/Parent Milk Production Partnership, and I have also made it possible for young, trained farm managers to enter into partnership with established milk producers. And those that have previously been involved in beef or cereals production, for example, can now join forces with milk producers in developing their enterprises.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 84: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will put in place a special package for those people who were in the process of applying for the early retirement scheme and installation aid scheme when the schemes were suspended on 14 October 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11992/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Early Retirement Scheme and the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme were closed to new applicants on 14 October 2008. I have no immediate plans to reopen entry to these schemes at this time.