Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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220. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that applied for funding under the young farmers scheme for 2016; the number that were denied; the number in County Louth that applied; and if there were any departmental waivers given to those who did not meet the set criteria. [35338/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department received some 8,600 applications for funding under the 2016 Young Farmers Scheme. To date 340 applications have been deemed to be unsuccessful. 84 applications for the 2016 Young Farmers Scheme were received from Co. Louth applicants.

EU Regulations governing the operation of the Young Farmers Scheme set down the definition of a young farmer for the purposes of eligibility under the Scheme. This definition applies to all Member States and my Department has no discretion with regard to its implementation in Ireland. Successful applicants to the Scheme are also required to fulfil certain criteria with regard to agricultural educational qualifications. No Departmental waiver has been given to any applicant in relation to the 2016 Young Farmers Scheme.