Major policy amendments to help young farmers were announced yesterday by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, at a seminar held in Dublin.
He told the "Young Farmers - Securing the next Generation" conference in the Green Isle Hotel that he will amend the early retirement scheme to allow more young people into the industry.
He said the rule that 50 per cent of an applicant's income must already come from farming is to be changed. This would allow part-time farmers into the scheme.
The conference was organised jointly by the Department and Macra na Feirme, the organisation for young farmers.
Mr Walsh said new criteria based on economic viability will replace the current enlargement requirement. Under the current scheme, the farmer taking over the retiring farmer's land must extend the holding by at least 10 per cent.
However, the Minister said, this rule was causing fragmentation of farms rather than consolidation.
"Once finalised," he said, "the new rules drawn up by the Department will be forwarded to the EU Commission who have six months to agree, and where necessary, modify the plan. I hope the new scheme will be in place around June 2000."
While no decisions had yet been taken on the distribution of the 32 million gallons in additional milk quotas won for Ireland, he wanted greater flexibility in the scheme to help progressive young people get into milking.
"I believe that this milk should go to the progressive farmer who will use it to develop the industry. It will not be going to farmers who will not get up in the morning to milk," he said.
On Wednesday's announcement that the EU will provide €2.2 billion from 2000 to 2006, Mr Walsh said that Ireland had done very well in these negotiations, gaining far more than many of its European partners.
"I am confident that the Government will provide adequate national funding to meet demand under this scheme in the context of the National Development Plan," he said.
The Minister told the young farmers they could face the future with confidence.