102. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if simplification in the rules applying to young farmer schemes across the European Union, as announced in recent weeks (details supplied), will allow the Irish authorities to decide the criteria for young farmers, for example for the young farmer capital investment scheme, if so, when such changes will be effected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44512/15]

The statement made by EU Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Phil Hogan on the 16 November will not have an impact on the eligibility criteria already set out in the Terms and Conditions of the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme. That statement dealt with providing access to schemes for legal entities controlled by young farmers, and these are already facilitated under the Irish Scheme.