A successful applicant under the Young Farmers Scheme since 2019 is eligible to apply to roll over into the new Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers for the remainder of their five-year term of eligibility, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed.
It has reminded farmers to ensure that they indicate their intent to apply by using the appropriate slider button on their 2023 BISS online application.
According to the DAFM, a ‘thumbs up’ icon will indicate an application for the new scheme.
In the case of the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers option being unavailable on the 2023 BISS application screen for a continuing participant rolling over into the new scheme, the onus is on the applicant to submit a new application via iNet, the DAFM has stressed.
Eligibility criteria
According to the CIS-FY’s terms and conditions, which the DAFM has made available to the public in recent weeks, to be eligible for the support scheme, an applicant must:
- Have submitted a valid 2023 BISS application under a herd number on which the applicant is included;
- She/he is aged no more than 40 years of age at any time during the calendar year in which she/he first submits the application under the CIS-YF;
- Have successfully completed a recognised course of education in agriculture, giving rise to a level 6 award or equivalent on the NFQ by May 29th, 2023 – The DAFM has published a list of accredited/approved courses;
- Setting up a holding as head, solely or jointly, for the first time, or has set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of an application under the CIS-FY.
About the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers
The Young Farmers Scheme’s successor will provide an additional payment to eligible young farmers.
The payment is made based on the number of eligible hectares (rather than entitlements as per the YFS) that the young farmer declares, subject to a maximum of 50, like the National Reserve, and is paid for a maximum term of five years at a rate of circa €175/ha.
