Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
814. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the definition of "young farmer" in Ireland includes an upper limit of 35 years of age whereas the EU policy objective is 40 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41426/20]
View answerSupport for young farmers and generational renewal is a priority for the Government. In Ireland, some 5% of farmers are under 35 years and 30% are over 65 years. Demographic challenges for the agriculture sector are not unique to Ireland and generational renewal is also a priority at EU level and an objective of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).
There are a range of supports in place to support young farmers and assist succession and the early inter-generational transfer of farms, both through the CAP and through national taxation measures.
The age limit for young farmer supports under CAP, which is set down in the relevant EU Regulations, is 40 years. There is no discretion for Member States on this requirement.
A number of important national agri-tax reliefs are subject to an age limit of 35 years. These were mostly established when the previous CAP definition was also 35 years.
While taxation policy is primarily the responsibility of the Minister for Finance, our two Departments work closely to ensure it is consistent with the Government's priorities for the agri-food sector. The Department of Finance’s Tax Strategy Group paper on stamp duty published earlier this year commits to further examination of this issue in collaboration with my Department, while noting there may be valid policy reasons for the application of differing age limits to tax reliefs and grant schemes targeted at the sector.
