Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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185. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the arrangements in place to ensure that all dairy farmers under 40 years of age benefit from the provisions in respect of young farmers under the rural development plan; his plans to extend the plan to other age cohorts, or to introduce a similar scheme for farmers over 40 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27085/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme was launched on 14 May 2014 as part of the new Targeted Modernisation Schemes (TAMS II) under the new Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020. It provides support for the dairy sector, amongst other things, and includes grant-aid at 60% for investment in dairy buildings, milking machines, milk cooling and storage equipment and in-parlour feeding systems. Farmers must be below 40 years of age at the time of application and have been set up in farming within the previous five years. These qualifying criteria are laid down by EU regulation and I have no authority to vary them. However, on 29 June 2015 I also announced the opening of the new TAMS II Dairy Equipment Scheme. This Scheme is open to all farmers who meet the general eligibility criteria, offering a standard rate of aid of 40% to all. In recognition of the fact that there are young farmers out there who will not qualify for the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme, I have directed that these farmers are to receive priority under the general scheme. The specific areas of investment in this Scheme will include milking machines; milk cooling and storage equipment and in-parlour feeding systems but not dairy buildings.

An indicative allocation of €120m has been made available under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme and €50m under the Dairy Equipment Scheme over the full RDP period. The total allocation for the various on farm investment schemes planned under TAMS II is €395m over the course of the programme.

All applications under these Schemes must be made on-line, either by the farmer or by an adviser authorised to act on his or her behalf. The online application system is open for the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme and will go-live shortly for the Dairy Equipment Scheme.