Payments under the Long Established Young Farmers Scheme are to issue to successful applicants next month, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has said.

A total of 1,254 farmers applied to the scheme by the closing date of 13 August 2025, he said in response to TD Naoise Ó Muirí.

“These applications are currently being assessed and applicants will be notified of the outcome in due course,” Minister Heydon said.

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An allocation of €5m was made in Budget 2025 for the scheme.

This funding is expected to be sufficient to provide the maximum possible payment to eligible applicants in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme, the Minister said.

“It is proposed to make payment to successful applicants by mid-December 2025,” he added.

Forgotten farmers

The long established young farmers, commonly referred to as forgotten farmers, is a group defined as young farmers who were under the age of 40 in 2015, had commenced in agriculture prior to 2008, did not receive young farmer installation aid and were not eligible for young farmer supports under the Common Agricultural Policy from 2015 due to the date they had first set up in agriculture.