Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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185. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he intends to take to support young farmers under pillar one payments in the next Common Agricultural Policy and the National Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26956/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Supporting young farmers is a key priority of mine.

I am committed to ensuring that farming remains strong and sustainable into the future. Supports for young farmers has been a central issue within the current CAP and will be further strengthened in future years. Generational renewal was prioritised during the formulation of the new CAP, and the published regulations and Ireland's draft CAP strategic plan reflect that.

Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan was submitted to the EU Commission at the end of December 2021 and contains details of our proposed support measures for young farmers under Pillar I of the next CAP from 2023 to 2027. 

Under Pillar I of the next CAP Ireland has proposed utilising the option to implement the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers.  This scheme will see an additional payment per hectare made to eligible young farmers, subject to a maximum of 50 hectares, and is payable for a maximum period of five years.

Ireland also plans to operate a National Reserve under the new CAP from 2023 to 2027.  The National Reserve will cater for the two priority categories of ‘young farmer’ and ‘new farmer’. 

Successful applicants under the National Reserve will be eligible for an allocation of payment entitlements at the national average entitlement value on eligible land for which they hold no entitlements and/or a top up of low value entitlements to the national average entitlement value.