Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding entitlements (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24784/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The 2012 National Reserve, the closing date for which was 15 May, caters for new entrants to farming. In order to qualify for entitlements from the National Reserve applicants must have a herd number or have applied for a herd number prior to 15th May 2012, and have submitted an application under the 2012 Single payment scheme providing details of the number of eligible hectares farmed. Owned and leased/ rented land is eligible.

In addition, applicants are required to meet certain criteria with regard to income limits and educational qualifications. Off-farm income cannot exceed €30,000 and total income, including farm income, cannot exceed €40,000. Applicants must have obtained a FETAC Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture or its equivalent. The green certificate in farming is regarded as equivalent for this purpose. The value of entitlements allocated to successful applicants will be the average value of entitlements in the District Electoral Division (DED) associated with the herd number of the applicant. The maximum payment under the 2012 National Reserve is €5,000.

The National Reserve is a scarce resource and is only replenished from entitlements that remain unused over a period of two consecutive years. Where the value of unused entitlements at the end of 2012 is insufficient to meet the requirements of all eligible applicants under the 2012 National Reserve, a linear cut will be applied to the allocation of successful applicants.

It is too early yet to say what, if any, provisions will be made under the 2013 National Reserve as this will depend on the funds available.

The European Commission published its proposals for reform of the CAP post 2013 in October last and negotiations on those proposals are continuing. Under the proposals existing single payment entitlements will be abolished on 31 December 2013 and new entitlements will be allocated to eligible farmers in 2014. As the negotiations are still at an early stage it is too soon to speculate on what the final outcome and details of the reform will be including the arrangements for new entrants to farming and the National Reserve.

I will continue to consult with farming organisations and other stakeholders as the negotiations progress.