Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps and criteria to be followed by a person to apply for entitlements under the national reserve. [15429/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The National Reserve 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 to their local District Veterinary office for a herd number prior to closing date of the Single Payment application. In addition applicants must have submitted an application under the current Single Payment scheme providing details of the number of eligible hectares farmed.

Applicants are required to meet certain criteria, which varies through the scheme years, with regard to income limits and educational qualifications. Under the 2012 National Reserve applicants must have commenced farming after 17 May, 2010. Any off-farm income cannot exceed €30,000 and total income, including farm income, cannot exceed €40,000. Also applicants must have obtained a FETAC Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture or its equivalent.

Funds in the National Reserve are limited and the Reserve is only replenished by the value of entitlements that remain unused. Should there be a 2013 National Reserve scheme, it will be announced early April as has been the case for the previous Schemes.