Eamon Ryan
Ceist:68 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the statistic that 27% of Irish farms have no foreseeable successor. [14058/03]
Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.
The recent Agricultural Consultants Association study set out in an opinion poll format certain statistics with regard to farm succession and what was perceived as the lack of a successor to take over certain farms.
I would agree that this can be seen as a worry for those who wish to see continuity in farming and that a family tradition of ownership would continue into future generations but there are optimistic signs with regard to the structure of Irish farming. A recently released EUROSTAT survey indicates that Ireland has one of the best age profiles within the European Community with significantly more farmers under 35, 13% as against an EU average of 8%, and fewer farmers over the age of 55, 40% as against an EU average of 52%. I believe that the range of policies that my Department has adopted with regard to encouraging young farmers to enter or stay in farming is playing a major role in maintaining a good age structure in Irish farming and in solving the succession problem.
Question No. 69 answered with Question No. 16.