Written answers
Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Agriculture Schemes Eligibility
James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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126. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the young farmer top-up scheme to include all first-time applicants under 40 years of age irrespective of the number of years they have been farming to help more young farmers earn a basic wage from farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2969/15]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the EU Regulations governing the Young Farmer scheme, eligibility for payment is limited to farmers under 40 years and is payable for a period of no more than five years following the commencement of the young farmer’s farming activity. The scheme is intended to provide financial assistance to young farmers during the period immediately following the setting up of their farming enterprise. My Department has no discretion regarding these eligibility criteria and as such it is not possible to extend the Young Farmers Scheme to include the category of farmers as proposed by the Deputy.
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