Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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492. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to relax the five-year rule that applies to the young farmer capital investment scheme of TAMS II (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47848/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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There are no plans to change the eligibility criteria for the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II, specifically the five year rule. Applications are currently accepted from young farmers who commenced farming during the five years preceding the date of application.

My Department is already availing of the maximum flexibility available under the Rural Development Regulations in order to ensure that as many Young Farmers as possible are able to avail of the enhanced grant rates of 60% available under the Scheme. There is no scope to extend the flexibility further under the EU regulations governing the Scheme.

Applicants who do not meet the eligibility conditions of the Young Farmer Scheme can avail of the other TAMS II measures where the applicable grant rate is 40%.