Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
455. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional measures he intends to introduce to support generational renewal in the farming sector, particularly in relation to land access, succession planning and support for young farmers entering agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36476/26]
View answerThe challenge of generational renewal in farming is widely recognised at both national and EU level. The Programme for Government prioritises supporting inter-generational farm succession. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, states that generational renewal in farming is critically important to ensure the future viability and social sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector and of rural Ireland.
There are a number of supports for generational renewal currently available to farmers under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. These supports are complemented by a suite of strong national taxation measures, access to finance supports, as well as advisory and education & training support. Despite these significant supports the average age of farmers continues to rise.
The Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming was established to examine this issue, which is complex, with many factors involved. The Commission adopted an objective, evidence-based approach to examining all the factors involved and engaged closely with stakeholders. Their report looked at existing supports in detail and estimated that at least €429 million in supports were provided in 2024. They produced a thorough analysis and have made 31 recommendations across a wide range of areas including CAP Supports; Pensions; Taxation; Access to Finance; Access to Land; Collaborative Arrangements; Advisory Services; Education and Training; Gender Balance; and the Overall Attractiveness of the Sector.
I was pleased to launch the Commission's report last September. As noted by the Commission, this is an issue for all of the agri-food stakeholders to address; to support the environmental, social and economic sustainability of farming, and to enhance its image as a career.
An implementation group in my Department is currently considering the recommendations and will monitor implementation on an ongoing basis. The current CSP is fully programmed and the budget has been committed. Therefore, recommendations in the report around CAP supports are being considered in the context of the new round post 2027, including the new CAP regulation and a new budget. The EU Commission has also published a new Strategy for Generational Renewal in Agriculture. I welcome this increased focus, and their new strategy comes to many of the same conclusions as our own Commission.
While some recommendations can only be progressed in the context of the next CAP, others can and will be implemented in a shorter time frame. I am pleased that some of the taxation recommendations have already been progressed in Budget 2026 and we are currently progressing others.
The work of the Commission ensures we have a comprehensive, well-considered foundation for our ongoing work in supporting generational renewal.
