John Perry
Ceist:15 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his policies to encourage young farmers to enter into and remain in the profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20684/02]
Vol. 556 No. 5
15 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his policies to encourage young farmers to enter into and remain in the profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20684/02]
76 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the content of a recent Teagasc report which showed an increase in the number of young people planning a career in agriculture; the measures his Department takes to promote agriculture as a career; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20826/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 76 together.
I welcome the recent announcement by Teagasc that the number of students participating in third level vocational courses in agricultural and horticultural colleges has increased by almost 10% this year. The upgrading of courses to third level status is clearly proving attractive to young people interested in careers in agriculture and horticulture. That participants can progress from these certificate and diploma courses to university degree level is a significant factor in the big increase in student numbers.
My Department operates a number of specific measures to promote agriculture as a career. Tax incentives include 100% stock relief for young trained farmers for four years after transfer, 100% stamp duty relief on transfers of agricultural land and buildings to young trained farmers, 90% agricultural relief on capital acquisitions tax, income tax exemptions for land leased by farmers over 55 to non-connected persons and retirement relief on capital gains tax for farmers over 55. The principal non-tax relief measures in place are the installation aid scheme, which was established pursuant to the national development plan, and the early retirement scheme. A grant of €9,523 is available to young farmers under 35 years of age who became established in farming for the first time on or after 1 January 2000 under the installation aid scheme. In addition, top-up grants are also available to young farmers under both the dairy hygiene scheme and the farm waste management scheme. Under the early retirement scheme, older farmers are encouraged to retire early from farming in order to qualify for a pension which is jointly funded by the EU and the Exchequer, thereby encouraging their replacement by younger farmers able to improve, where necessary, the economic viability of agricultural holdings.