Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 483: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30738/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2012 National Reserve. The 2012 National Reserve caters for farmers who commenced farming after 17 May, 2010. Applicants are required to submit a 2012 Single Payment application form detailing all lands which they are currently farming. 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.

Processing of the 2012 National Reserve Scheme is ongoing. My Department will be in touch with individual applicants as soon as their applications are fully processed. A formal letter setting out the details of the decision will issue at that stage. In February 2012 my Department announced details of the 2012 Scheme for the Allocation of Milk Quota to New Entrants to Dairying with a closing date of 4 May 2012. About 270 applications have been received and examined in my Department for eligibility. All valid applications are currently being distributed to the members of the Assessment Panel for consideration and the Panel hope to be in a position to recommend a list of suitable applicants to me by mid August.

I can confirm that an application has been received from the named person and has been forwarded to the Panel for consideration.