Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

798. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many farmers were eligible for the young farmers and national reserve in 2015 and how much was paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13146/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department received just over 7,000 applications under the 2015 National Reserve and almost 9,000 applications under the 2015 Young Farmers Scheme. To date some 6,900 applications under the National Reserve and some 8,800 applications under the Young Farmers Scheme have been fully processed. In the case of outstanding applications, issues pertaining to registration of herd numbers, entitlement registration and agricultural educational qualifications need to be verified for applicants. My Department is engaged in ongoing correspondence with applicants requesting additional documentation where this is required to facilitate final processing of their applications. A number of applicants have yet to respond and these cases cannot be fully processed until replies are received. Once the relevant documents have been received the outstanding applications will be finalised, with a view to payment issuing as soon as possible thereafter.

Details on the number of successful applicants under the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme and the level of funds paid will be available once all remaining cases are finalised, including cases where appeals have been received from applicants who were notified that their applications were unsuccessful and who have availed of the right to appeal this decision.