IFA Welcomes Decision to Accommodate ‘old Young Farmers’ Under the National Reserve

IFA President Eddie Downey has welcomed the decision from the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney to accommodate the ‘Old Young Farmers’ under the 2015 National Reserve.

He said from the outset, IFA identified and lobbied for this particular group of new farmers, who due to the closure of the installation aid scheme in 2008 were unfairly excluded from start up support.

Eddie Downey said “IFA made it clear to Minister Coveney during the negotiations on CAP Reform and the National Reserve that a solution had to be found to accommodate this group of deserving young farmers”.

The IFA President said this group of farmers did not have the opportunity to benefit from the young farmers installation scheme because of its sudden closure in 2008. In addition, they were not eligible to qualify as a ‘young farmer’ under the existing National Reserve because of the five-year rule requiring them to have established since January 1st 2010.

Eddie Downey said this specific group can now be accommodated under the National Reserve and may be allocated new entitlements or given a top-up to the value of their existing entitlements under the changes provided for by Minister Coveney.

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