Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 October 2013
179. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the number of registered farmers that are under 35 years of age; the number of persons over the state pension age that are registered as farmers; the number of persons over 85 years of age that are registered as farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42925/13]
View answerThe following tables shows the breakdown of the age profile of farmers requested, based on the Department’s 2012 SPS database.
|
Age Category |
Number of Farmers |
% of Total Farmers |
|
Under 35 |
6,828 |
5% |
|
Over 66 (State pension age) |
33,072 |
26% |
|
Over 85 |
2,961 |
2% |
|
Total Farmers |
124,843 |
The table shows that 26% of all farmers in Ireland are over the State pension age, with 2% over 85; and only 5% under 35.
I have been working to encourage more new entrants to take up farming as a career. Budget 2013 saw the extension of key reliefs that were already in place for young new entrants (such as the 100% relief from Stamp Duty and the 100% stock relief for Young Trained Farmers). The Deputy will also be aware that changes were made to retirement relief in Budget 2012 to encourage inter-generational land transfers. It should also be noted that there has been no change to the very important 90% agricultural relief on Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT). This means that farms worth up to €2.25 million will continue to be fully exempt from CAT with regard to transfers to a child.
In addition, a new restructuring relief was announced in the 2013 budget. Re-structuring is essential for us to meet the Food Harvest 2020 targets. We need to use land more productively and encourage more young farmers to make the best use of the land. An EU Commission study found that ‘younger [farm] managers tend to perform better than the EU average, with 46% more area and 57% more economic potential for 21% more labour force.’ . The new restructuring relief on Capital Gains Tax will give young farmers an opportunity to consolidate their holdings and increase efficiency.
Measures to provide targeted support to young farmers are included the final CAP reform agreement. I strongly support the proposal for a top-up for young farmers under Pillar 1 of the CAP, and indeed Ireland was one of the first countries to suggest this measure in the negotiations.
I am delighted that the number of applicants for Teagasc courses has greatly increased over the last two years. Teagasc has responded well to this demand and have introduced new courses to cater for a variety of needs. For example Teagasc launched a new Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management (Level 7) in association with University College Dublin (UCD). Teagasc have also developed recently a new Level 6 Specific Purpose Certificate in Farm Administration course to help meet the training requirements for full-time or part-time farmers.
I am hopeful therefore that the measures that I have introduced will encourage more young people into farming and address the age profile imbalance in Irish farming.
