Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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478. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter regarding inequality for old young farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22128/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the EU regulations governing the National Reserve, priority under the Reserve must be given to ‘young farmers’ and ‘new entrants to farming’. Under the Regulations a ‘young farmer’ is defined as follows:

- S/he is aged no more than 40 years of age in the year in which s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme;

- S/he is setting up an agricultural holding for the first time or has set up such a holding during the five years preceding the submission of the Basic Payment Scheme application.

The EU Regulations governing the National Reserve define a ‘new entrant to farming’ as follows:

- S/he must have commenced the present agricultural activity in the 2013 calendar year or any later year.

As these definitions apply to all Member States, my Department has no discretion in relation to how they are implemented in Ireland.

Other eligibility requirements under the National Reserve in 2015 include holding an agricultural education qualification at FETAC Level 6 or equivalent and having an off-farm income of less that €40,000 in either of the years 2013 or 2014.

The definition of ‘young farmer’ under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme is the same as that which applies under the National Reserve. However, with regard to young farmers who established their holdings prior to 2010, I am prioritising their applications under the other measures included in the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS), with grant-aid payable at 40%, as introduced under the new Rural Development Plan.