Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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169. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the national reserve and young farmers scheme will be open for 2016 applications as the scheme was due to be opened in March 2016; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8321/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The 2015 National Reserve fund was based on a 3% cut to the Basic Payment Scheme financial ceiling and provided some €24 million in funding which was the maximum financing rate available under the relevant EU Regulations. When finalised there will be some 6,000 successful applicants under the 2015 National Reserve. As all of the National Reserve Funding will likely have been utilised, there will be no funding available to cover the operation of a 2016 National Reserve.

My Department has recently been in consultation with the Direct Payments Advisory Committee, which includes members of the main farming bodies and advisory services, in relation to the 2016 National Reserve. A final decision on this matter will be made shortly.

The 2016 Young Farmers Scheme opened for applications online on 22^ndApril. The closing date for submission of applications is 16^thMay 2016.