Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
420. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that have been considered by his Department with regard to supporting access to land for young farmers and new entrants to agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46134/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe challenge of generational renewal is widely recognised both at national and EU level. I am a strong supporter of assisting the next generation to take over the farm when the time is right to do so.
Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agrifood sector, recognises the challenge of generational renewal and proposes a number of actions. These include maintaining the strong level of current support, promoting succession planning & land mobility, and increased education and promotion of the diversity of careers in the agrifood sector.
The new Common Agricultural Policy cites generational renewal as one of its nine key objectives. There are a number of measures available under the new CAP Strategic Plan:
• A Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers’ Scheme, dedicating some 3% of the direct payments ceiling (€1.186 billion) to help young farmers establish their farming businesses. This allocation is approximately €35m per annum and will pay over €175 per hectare, subject to a maximum of 50 hectares over five years.
• A National Reserve 2023-2027 will provide support to two priority categories of Young Farmer and New Farmer. Successful applicants will receive an allocation of payment entitlements on land for which they hold no payment entitlements, and/or a top-up to the value of existing entitlements below the national average entitlement value to bring them up to the national average value, subject to an overall allocation of 50 entitlements per successful applicant.
• A higher grant rate of 60% for qualified young farmers under the TAMS capital investment measure will also continue 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 to encourage and support farmers aged 60 years and over to seek succession planning advice.
Nationally, there are a number of strong taxation measures to facilitate succession and assist land mobility. For succession, Agricultural Relief is the key measure, which along with 100% Stamp Duty Relief and Consanguinity Stamp Duty Relief, provided support of some €274 million in 2022. I was delighted to secure the extension of these in the recent budget for 2024. In addition, 100% Stock Relief for Young Trained Farmers was worth €1.7 million. 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, to encourage earlier transfer of family farms, and was worth €1 million.
For land mobility, long-term leasing income tax relief supports access to land for young farmers and provides a route to retirement for older farmers. Latest figures show €34.3 million for 12,490 beneficiaries.
In Budget 2024, Consanguinity relief was renewed for five years. The aggregate lifetime amount of relief that a young farmer can get from the Young-Trained Farmers Stamp Duty Relief, Young-Trained Farmers Stock Relief and the Succession Farm Partnerships Tax Credit is being increased from €70,000 to €100,000.
The €500 million Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme (GSLS), will facilitate strategic investment by SMEs, including farmers, fishers and food businesses, to ensure their continued viability and sustainability into the future. One of the unique characteristic of the Scheme is that loans up to €500,000 are unsecured, making it a viable source of finance for young and new entrant farmers, especially the cohort who do not have high levels of security.
In addition, all of Teagasc’s education activities equips our young farmers with the necessary knowledge to build successful careers.
Supporting young farmers and new entrants in agriculture will ensure a strong and sustainable sector into the future and will remain a priority for me and the Government.
