Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It does not apply to all families like the Deputy has described. If a person married late or everyone is gone away and the couple had a child later in life, where the 15 year old is in secondary school and the father is 70, he is not going to transfer it in the next 12 months. However, he is not being penalised in any way. It is simply the case that this particular relief does not suit his circumstances so he will not benefit from it. We all know the problem here. Some 26% of farmers are over 66 years of age. The relief has been available for decades. It was due to expire at the end of this year. I am extending it for three years with a one year extension for transfers from people over the age of 65.