Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 October 2023
93. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance if his Department is reviewing any support package for the farm tillage sector, understanding the importance of the sector and the decimation to many farm family incomes as a result of the worst harvest losses in living memory for many in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42857/23]
View answerA number of tax reliefs are in place specifically to support the farming sector, for example, accelerated capital allowances for farm safety equipment and for construction of slurry storage facilities, various stock reliefs, tax exemption for certain income earned from leasing farm land, carbon tax relief on farm diesel, succession farm partnerships relief, and VAT rebates on farm buildings.
Existing tax expenditure measures are kept under regular review by my Department as part of its on-going programme of work.
Decisions regarding tax incentives and reliefs, whether in respect of the introduction of new measures or the amendment of existing measures, are normally addressed in the context of the Budget and Finance Bill process. Such decisions must have regard to the sound management of the public finances and my Department's Tax Expenditure Guidelines.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it is a longstanding practice that the Minister for Finance does not comment, in advance of the Budget, on any matters that might be the subject of a Budget decision.
