Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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166. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding entitlements in respect of farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6054/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Farmers who hold low value entitlements under the current Single Payment Scheme will benefit significantly from the process of convergence that will apply under the Basic Payment Scheme. The purpose of the convergence model adopted by Ireland is to achieve a phased redistribution of payments between those who currently hold high value entitlements and those who hold low value entitlements. It introduces a fairer more equitable distribution of funds between farmers while avoiding the negative impact of a sudden move to a ‘flat-rate’.

Persons aged 40 or under in 2015 who established their farming enterprise in their own name after May 2010 and meet the other ‘young farmer’ criteria will be eligible to receive a top-up on their entitlement value from the National Reserve in 2015 where the existing value is below the national average value. They will also be eligible to participate in the Young Farmers Scheme. Participation in this Scheme is limited to a five year period which dates from the year of set-up.