Written answers

Wednesday, 8 July 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Schemes Eligibility

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

106. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his definition of active full-time young farmers; the entitlements they may claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27918/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The basic definition of a ‘young farmer’ is specified in the EU Regulation governing direct payments and is applicable to all Member States. In addition Member States have the discretion to add further eligibility criteria as regards appropriate skills and/or training requirements. To qualify as a ‘young farmer’, a person must meet all of the following conditions: S/he is aged no more than 40 years of age in the year when 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 first submission of the Basic Payment Scheme application; S/he has successfully completed a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at FETAC level 6 or its equivalent.

There is no requirement for a young farmer to participate in farming on a full time basis. However, the young farmer must exercise control over the farming enterprise, either solely or jointly with one or more other farmers, in terms of management, benefits and financial risks. The Young Farmers Scheme provides an additional payment per entitlement activated by the young farmer up to a maximum of 50 entitlements.

Persons who meet the definition of young farmer are automatically eligible to participate in the National Reserve and in the Young Farmers Scheme. The National Reserve allocates entitlements on the basis of one entitlement per eligible hectare declared by the young farmer up to a maximum of 90 entitlements. Existing entitlements with a value below the national average will be increased to the national average.

It should be noted that the National Reserve applies an off-farm income threshold whereby persons in receipt of an off-farm income greater than €40,000 in either 2013 or 2014 will not be eligible for an allocation of entitlements from the Reserve.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.