Written answers

Wednesday, 20 April 2016

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Young Farmers Scheme Eligibility

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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181. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will confirm receipt of an application from a person (details supplied) in County Cork for entitlements from the national reserve as a qualified young farmer; if this application was received by registered post indicating postage date of 30 March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7611/16]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named submitted an application for the 2015 Young Farmer Scheme which was received by my Department via standard post on 14 March 2016. The application was not successful as it was received after the Scheme closing date of 29 May 2015. The applicant was notified of this decision in writing and was offered the opportunity to submit an appeal.

My Department has now received an appeal from the person named in relation to their Young Farmers ’ Scheme application. This appeal will be considered by my Department based on the information set out by the applicant and a decision with regard to the outcome of the appeal will be notified in writing to the applicant as soon as possible.

There is no record of an application in respect of the National Reserve having been submitted by Registered Post for the person named on the date specified. An Official from my Department will contact the person named directly to establish further information with regard to the issue of any application by Registered Post in 2015.

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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182. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why the young farmers' payment was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the income threshold that is used in such decisions; if pensions are reckonable in such calculations; if appeals are allowed; if issues surrounding pension income are detailed in the terms and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7667/16]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The persons named submitted applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers ’ Scheme with the second person named as the ‘young farmer’. The application to the National Reserve was not successful as the applicants were deemed to have exceeded the €40,000 income threshold. The application to the Young Farmers’ Scheme was not successful as the applicants held no activated entitlements in 2015, the basis upon which the Young Farmers ’ Scheme is paid. The applicants were notified of the decisions in relation to the National Reserve and Young Farmers’ Scheme applications in writing and were offered the opportunity to submit an appeal.

My Department has now received an appeal from the persons named in relation to their National Reserve application. This appeal will be considered by my Department based on the information set out by the applicants and a decision with regard to the outcome of the appeal will be notified in writing to the applicants as soon as possible.

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. After consultation with this Committee it was decided that an off farm income limit of €40,000 would be applied to all applicants under the 2015 National Reserve. The corresponding off farm income limit under the previous National Reserve was €30,000. Applicants under the 2015 National Reserve also have the flexibility of choosing either the 2013 or 2014 tax year, whichever is more advantageous.

The Terms and Conditions of the National Reserve clearly state that for joint applicants under the National Reserve, such as in the case of the persons named, the gross off-farm income of all persons named on the herd number is taken into consideration. The Department of Social Protection ‘State Pension’, including Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension is excluded from the calculation to determine off-farm income. Retirement pensions resulting from other employment are reckonable as off-farm income under the 2015 National Reserve.

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