The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food is set to discuss the definition of a farmer within the Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 on Wednesday 22 April.

This follows a mid-term review of the national forestry programme 2023-2027 which was carried out by former minister of state for forestry, farm safety and horticulture Michael Healy-Rae last month.

The minister reviewed the definition in order to reduce administrative burdens on farm families.

The simplified farmer definition will be in place for the remainder of the programme and applicants must pass the Department’s “active farmer check” and must receive a valid payment under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme prior to the completion of planting.

Discuss

“We will discuss the definition of a farmer within the Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,” committee chair Deputy Aindrias Moynihan said ahead of the meeting.

“The committee are interested in the criteria used to define a ‘farmer’ in this context of the scheme and any impacts in terms of the operation of the scheme.”