For 2016, there is no designated funding from the Basic Payment Scheme to fund a National Reserve, the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has confirmed.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Charlie McConalogue TD, the Minister said the only source of funding available to the 2016 National Reserve will be from any unused funds from the 2015 National Reserve and from clawback arising from the sale of entitlements without land in 2016.
“Therefore the resource will be limited.
“It is however expected that the level of demand in 2016 and subsequent years will be significantly less than in 2015 which was the first year of operation of the National Reserve under the Basic Payment Scheme,” he said.
The EU Regulations governing the operation of the National Reserve set down that the priority for the allocation of entitlements from the National Reserve is given to the two categories of ‘young farmer’ and ‘new entrant to farming’.
The Minister said if there is sufficient funding available to provide a National Reserve in 2016, application forms and terms and conditions governing the scheme will be available in 2016 with a closing date of May 15, 2016.
The Young Farmers Scheme is available each year from 2015 to 2019.
Eligible young farmers may receive payment from the Young Farmers Scheme for a maximum of five years following the commencement of their agricultural activity.
The closing date for receipt of applications under the Young Farmers Scheme in 2016 will be May 15, 2016.