Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who have applied for the national reserve and young farmer top-up to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6496/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The National Reserve and Young Farmers Schemes opened for applications on Monday 5th January 2015 in respect of the two priority categories of Young Farmer and New Entrant as set down in the EU Regulations governing the operation of the Scheme. Applicants who meet the definition of ‘young farmer’ may apply to both the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme. Up to Monday 9th February 2015, applications have been received online from 286 applicants. A further 735 applications are in progress online but have not yet been submitted.

Of the 286 applications submitted, 266 applications relate to the Young Farmers Scheme, 208 applications relate to the National Reserve Young Farmer priority category and 14 applications relate to the National Reserve New Entrant priority category.