DEFA has proposed changes to its Agriculture and Fisheries Grant Scheme (AFGS) to improve flexibility and encourage new people to join the sectors.
The amendments aim to modernise the 2016 scheme by removing grant caps and expanding eligibility.
Key changes include replacing age-based support for young farmers and fishermen with a broader “new entrants” policy, and expanding the purposes for which grants can be awarded.
The amendments also extend appeal deadlines and strengthen DEFA’s powers to investigate and recover grants.
Flexibility
“The AFGS will be amended in order to provide greater flexibility in its operation,” the explanatory memo states.
It adds that references to young farmers and fishermen will be removed to enable “a policy-based approach to support ‘new entrants’ more generally into the sector, regardless of age.”
The department confirmed there are no additional resource implications, as the changes will be funded from its existing budget.
The updated scheme is designed to “reflect the needs of both the department to function efficiently and allow greater flexibility in the way the existing support provided can be tailored more effectively to the industries it serves.”
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