Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding national reserve entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52541/12]

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.

The person named was deemed ineligible as he does not hold the necessary farming qualification. The National Reserve is a scarce resource and applicants must therefore fulfil all of the eligibility criteria before an allocation can be made.

Funds in the National Reserve are very limited and the Reserve is only replenished by the value of entitlements that remain unused. 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 important therefore that available funds are directed at young trained farmers. This matter was thoroughly considered by the Single Payment advisory Committee comprising members of the main farming organisations, Teagasc and officials from my Department who recommended that this change be introduced.

It is for the reasons stated above that, regrettably, an exception cannot be made in these circumstances.