Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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250. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the criteria for qualifying for a 60% grant for building farm sheds to those young trained farmers who began farming after 2007 and, therefore, did not get the opportunity to apply for previous 75% shed grants, but who now will be ineligible for the 60% rate under the proposed criteria for new grants, because they have been farming for more than five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41505/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The definition of the Young Farmer is set out in the EU Regulations and the criteria for increasing the grant aid payable to 60% is to the cadre of farmers who have met the requirements of set-up for the first time within five years of the receipt of an application under the Young Farmer Scheme. I do not have scope to extend this criteria. However, I am aware that there are a number of farmers who have missed out on previous grant schemes and I intend to prioritise their applications under all of the other TAMS schemes where the grant rate is payable at 40%. In this regard, grants towards the cost of construction of new animal housing are available under the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme, at the rate of 40%.