The deadline for online applications is midnight, but paper applications must be submitted to the Department of Agriculture's offices in Portlaoise by 7pm tonight.

Submissions will be accepted after the deadline but with a penalty of 4% per working day.

In order to be eligible for the National Reserve, the farmer must be aged no more than 40 in the year in which she/he is applying and hold a FETAC level 6 qualification in agriculture.

Farmers who qualify will receive an allocation of entitlements based on the eligible land declared on their 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application.

The “old young farmer” category – where farmers currently still not older than 40 started farming from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2009 – will be open for applications in early April.