Macra said it is “a very positive signal” from the Government on the value it places on the development of young farmers and their futures.

Speaking on Tuesday, Seán Finan, president of Macra na Feirme, said: “The reopening of the National Reserve in 2017 is something that Macra na Feirme has actively campaigned on, for an extended period of time.

“We have lobbied at political and farm organisation levels to seek support and ensure there is a National Reserve in 2017. In Macra na Feirme, we are taking full credit for delivering the opening of the 2017 National Reserve for young farmers and new entrants.”

The National Reserve in 2017 will accommodate the priority categories of young farmers and new entrants. It will incorporate those who lost out in 2016 due to the lack of a National Reserve, but also the 2017 young farmers and new entrants.

The 2015 National Reserve scheme was a very successful scheme with 6,260 successful applicants and as a result all funds were exhausted.

We have to move away from the stop-start nature of young farmer schemes

Macra na Feirme says it has “consistently highlighted” that without the injection of funds this year for a national reserve, the moneys required in 2018 to look after three years of young farmers (2016-2017-2018) would unlikely be raised by the replenishment mechanisms and result in no national reserve for the duration of the CAP programme.

Gratitude to Michael Creed

Sean Finan continued: “On behalf of young farmers, we in Macra na Feirme would like to thank Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, his officials, and some of the farm organisations who supported our proposals for a 2017 National Reserve.

“The reopening of a 2017 National Reserve is another example of the very positive and valuable work that Macra na Feirme does in representing and lobbying on behalf of young farmers. As the only voice of young farmers in the country, Macra na Feirme has always been very clear that we have to move away from the stop-start nature of young farmer schemes and this announcement is a very positive development in that regard for young farmers.”

IFA

The IFA has also welcomed the news. "IFA has been very clear on the need for a national reserve for young farmers in 2017, funded from unused funds, and this was clearly spelled out at the Direct Payments Advisory Committee held recently," said deputy president Richard Kennedy. He added that it is "very important that there are ongoing supports for a national reserve and young farmer scheme to support restricting in the farming industry”.

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Creed announces €5m funding for 2017 National Reserve