Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
1103. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the age profile of those employed in agriculture; the measures he has put in place to encourage younger people into farming and the outcomes of those measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1353/25]
View answerThe challenge of attracting young people into a career in farming is widely recognised, both at national and EU level. Demographic challenges for the agricultural sector are not unique to Ireland with 4.35% of farmers under 35 years of age, and over 37% of farmers over 65, similar to the EU average.
Farm Structure Survey 2023 – Age of farm-holders
|
All farms |
133,171 |
|
|
< 35 years |
5,791 |
4.3% |
|
35 - 44 years |
14,940 |
11.2% |
|
45 - 54 years |
26,864 |
20.2% |
|
55 - 64 years |
35,184 |
26.4% |
|
65 + years |
50,392 |
37.8% |
It should be noted that these figures refer to farm-holders only. The recent CSO Farm Structure Survey 2023 results also show that 299,725 people worked on farms in Ireland, including farm holders, family workers and regular non-family workers. This is an increase of approximately 30,000 (+11.2%) workers in the 10-year period since 2013. No breakdown by age is available for these agriculture labour force figures.
Food Vision 2030, the stakeholder-led strategy for the agri-food sector, highlights the challenge of generational renewal and proposes several actions, including maintaining the current strong level of support, the promotion of succession planning & land mobility, and increased education and promotion of the diversity of careers in the agri-food sector.
The current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) cites generational renewal as one of its nine key objectives. Under Ireland’s CSP 2023-2027, I am providing substantial investment in achieving generational renewal and measures include:
• A Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers’ Scheme, to help young farmers establish their farming businesses. Payments under 2024 CISYF commenced in early December 2024. To-date almost 6,000 applications have been cleared for payment and payments totalling €33m issued.
• The National Reserve 2023-2027 provides support to two priority categories of Young Farmer and New Farmer. Payments of some €2.7 million have issued in respect of 2024 scheme year.
• Additionally, under the TAMS capital investment measure, a higher grant rate of 60% for qualified young farmers continues to be available.
• A Collaborative Farming Grant Scheme provides financial support to encourage farmers to form partnerships with young, trained farmers.
• A Succession Planning Advice Grant provides financial support towards the costs incurred for independent legal and financial advice for older farmers about succession planning.
There are also strong taxation measures to facilitate succession and encourage inter-generational transfer of farms. These measures include Agricultural Relief and Stamp Duty exemptions. Investment and access to land are supported by 100% Stamp Duty Relief for Young Trained Farmers, 100% Stock Relief for Young Trained Farmers and Income Tax Relief for Long-Term Leasing. In addition, the Succession Farm Partnership Scheme provides for a €25,000 tax credit over five years to further assist the transfer of land within a partnership structure.
On access to finance, the €500m Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme provides low-cost, long-term investment loans up to ten years. This scheme is a viable source of finance for young and new entrant farmers, especially the cohort who do not have high levels of security. One of the unique characteristics of the scheme is loans up to €500,000 are unsecured.
In addition, Teagasc Education and Knowledge activities focus on equipping young farmers with necessary expertise to build long and successful careers in farming.
Last October, I established a Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming. I intend to make generational renewal a central feature of our preparations for the new CAP, post 2027. The Commission is adopting an objective, evidence-based approach to examining all the complex factors involved that contribute to the age demographics in the sector. The Commission is committed to engaging with stakeholders and recently launched a public consultation. Their report is due to issue before the end of June this year.
