Published on Tuesday21stFebruary2017

Minister Creed Announces Funding for the 2017 National Reserve

20170221Creed Forestry Reserve

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed at the announcement of the opening of the National Reserve 2017 with President of Macra Sean Finan

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has announced the allocation of funding for the 2017 National Reserve. 

Minister Creed said:

The National Reserve is a vital resource for providing support to young farmers and new entrants to farming in the crucial years following establishment of the farm holding.

In addition the Minister announced that the 2017 Young Farmers Scheme will also be available to provide an additional payment to any person who qualifies as a ‘young farmer’.

The Minister concluded:

The 2015 National Reserve proved to be a huge success in facilitating the entry of over 6,000 young, well educated persons into the farming community.  The National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme, together with the value of associated Greening payments, provided for an allocation of Pillar 1 payments in excess of €52 million in 2015.  The 2017 National Reserve will build on this progress in helping to provide a solid basis for the future of the agriculture Industry in Ireland.

As the National Reserve fund for 2017 is a very scarce resource the scheme will be targeted specifically at educated young farmers and new entrants to farming who fulfil specific objective criteria. The National Reserve on-line application form together with full terms and conditions will be available when the scheme opens for applications in March 2017.