It will be mandatory that all applicants to the Young Farm Capital Investment Scheme have completed a farm safety course.

Under the conditions of the scheme it will be mandatory that, within the last five years prior to the submission of their claim for payment, applicants complete the half day Farm Safety Code of Practice (given by Teagasc or other trained persons) or have completed the FETAC Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (Green Cert.).

The conditions also state that in the case of a Registered Farm Partnership or a Company the course must have been completed by the young farmer.

In the case of an application from two eligible young farmers in a registered farm partnership, only one of the applicants needs to have completed the course.

Claims for payment will not be processed until evidence of completion of the course is provided.

According to Teagasc the cost of its Half-Day Farm Safety Course is €30. It has also confirmed that it is in a position to service current demand for training.

Teagasc holds the half-day courses at a number of venues in each county. To be notified of course dates and venues, and to book a place, contact Teagasc using the information listed below.

Details of the new grants for young farmers, which cover 60% of farm investment, were announced recently.

The young farmer grants come under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme, which is the first of the new Targeted Modernisation Schemes (TAMS II).

The Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney said the Scheme is very important – offering eligible young farmers a special rate of aid of 60% of investment costs, compared to the standard rate of 40% which will be generally available to other farmers.

The total allocation for the various on farm investment schemes planned under TAMS II, including the Young Farmer Investment scheme, is €395m over the course of the programme.