Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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94. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the specific disadvantage provision, under the National Reserve, to cover young farmers who became established, since the closure of the previous National Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8642/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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EU Regulations governing the 2015 National Reserve provide that young farmers and new entrants are deemed to be priority categories. A Young Farmer is defined as a farmer aged 40 years or less who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting the Basic Payment Scheme application. Therefore young farmers who commenced their farming activity since 1 January 2010 are included in this category. The Regulations governing the National Reserve also include an optional provision whereby Member States may use the National Reserve to allocate new entitlements or give a top-up on the value of existing entitlements for persons suffering from a “Specific Disadvantage”. Following successful engagement with the EU Commission it has been decided that young farmers who established their holding in 2008 and 2009, who comply with the definition of Young Farmer, but who missed out on both the Young Farmer Installation Scheme and the Young farmer priority category of the National Reserve will be included as a non-priority category under the ‘Specific disadvantage’ provisions of the National Reserve. Applications will be available in early April.

The previous National Reserve closed for applications on 15th May 2012, therefore the eligibility period for the new National Reserve overlaps that of the previous one.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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95. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reduce the 90 hectare cap on the National Reserve, to ensure that farmers with an eligible specific disadvantage, can access it on their existing holding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8643/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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EU Regulations governing the 2015 National Reserve provide that young farmers and new entrants are deemed to be priority categories. A Young Farmer is defined as a farmer aged 40 years or less who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting the Basic Payment Scheme application. The Regulations governing the National Reserve also include an optional provision whereby Member States may use the National Reserve to allocate new entitlements or give a top-up on the value of existing entitlements for persons suffering from a “Specific Disadvantage”. Following successful engagement with the EU Commission it has been decided that young farmers who established their holding in 2008 and 2009, who comply with the definition of Young Farmer, but who missed out on both the Young Farmer Installation Scheme and the Young Farmer priority category of the National Reserve will be included as a non-priority category under the ‘specific disadvantage’ provisions of the National Reserve. Applications will be available in early April.

In accordance with the relevant EU Regulation governing the National Reserve, Member States have the option of applying objective criteria in the allocation of entitlements. The process of deciding objective criteria for the National Reserve is carried out in consultation with the Direct Payments Advisory Committee which includes members of the main farming bodies and advisory services.

Having taken into account the views of stakeholders on this Committee, it was decided that a cap of 90 is appropriate to the maximum number of entitlements allocated under the National Reserve.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department plans to use the option, under the permanent grassland rules as set out in article 4(h) of the Direct Payments Regulation 1307/2014, to identify land, which forms part of the established practices, where herbs and grasses are traditionally not predominant in the grazing area; if so, the areas that will be defined as permanent grassland, under established local practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8690/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2014 and of other relevant regulations, Member States may decide that land which can be grazed and which forms part of established local practices where grasses and other herbaceous forage are traditionally not predominant in grazing areas is to be considered to be permanent grassland. The areas as described, excluding established scrub and ungrazed heather will, in general terms, be eligible under the Basic Payment Scheme provided there is evidence of an agricultural activity being carried out. In reality such areas (upland heather) were already eligible in Ireland under the Single Payment Scheme and this remains the position under the Basic Payment Scheme. The agricultural activity required must be appropriate to the type of land involved and should ensure that the area eligible for payment remains in this state.