I propose to take Questions Nos. 726 and 727 together.
The CSO's 2013 Farm Structures Survey indicated that approximately 37,700 or 27% of Irish farmers are over 65 years and 8,200 (6%) aged under 35. A full age breakdown can be found as follows. These figures compare with Eurostat data for 2013, which showed that 31% of all EU farm holders were over 65 and 6% are aged under 35.
Age of Farm Holder
2013
|
Number
|
% of farmers
|
< 35
|
8,200
|
6%
|
35 - 44
|
22,800
|
16%
|
45 - 54
|
34,800
|
25%
|
55 - 64
|
35,600
|
26%
|
> 65
|
37,700
|
27%
|
Total
|
139,100
|
100%
|
Source: Farm Structures Survey, 2013. CSO
The CSO's 2010 Census of Agriculture shows that in 2010 there were 139,860 farms in Ireland. This figure is compared to 141,527 farms in 2000, a decrease of 1.2% in ten years. The 2013 Farm Structures Survey also carried out by the CSO puts the number of farms in Ireland at 139,600, a reduction of just 260 from the 2010 figures.
There are a number of tax measures specifically aimed at young farmers, specifically ‘100% Stock Relief on Income Tax for Certain Young Trained Farmers’ and ‘Stamp Duty Exemption on Transfers of Land to Young Trained Farmers’. The Agri-taxation Review was published as part of Budget 2015 and set out the main policy objectives for continuing support through agri-taxation measures including:
- Increasing land mobility and the productive use of land
- Assisting succession and the transfer of farms.
Both objectives are especially relevant to young farmers and Budget 2015 included a number of new measures in this regard, as well as measures to enhance and strengthen the existing supports.
In addition I recently announced that the ‘Succession Farm Partnership Scheme’ has been approved and administrative arrangements are being finalised for its commencement this year. The Scheme provides for a €25,000 tax credit over five years to assist with the transfers of farms within a partnership structure and will promote the earlier inter-generational transfer of family farms. It will encourage and support important conversations within farm families about succession planning.