Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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71. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to increase opportunities for women in agriculture, given women are under-represented in the Irish agri-sector; if data collection will be undertaken in the current CAP programme to inform the design of schemes in future programmes in such way as to increase their opportunities in agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46499/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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What action is the Department taking to increase opportunities for women in agriculture, given that women are under-represented in the Irish agriculture sector? Will data collection will be undertaken under the current CAP programme to inform the design of schemes in future programmes in such a way as to increase women's opportunities in agriculture? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Gender equality across all sectors, including agriculture, is a priority for the Government. I am very proud to have taken quantifiable steps to improve the visibility and representation of, and opportunities for, women in farming and agribusiness.

I am very pleased that, for the first time, Ireland’s new CAP strategic plan includes a number of specific measures aimed at increasing the participation of women in farming. For example, there is an increased grant rate of 60% under the capital investment scheme, the targeted agriculture modernisation scheme, TAMS 3, to fund investments by trained women farmers. Women-only knowledge transfer groups are being promoted and there is improved recording and reporting of gender data and leveraging of the national CAP network to increase the involvement of all women in the implementation of the CAP. All CAP interventions are now being developed with a gender-aware perspective to ensure there are no inherent barriers to women's participation. Furthermore, the European Innovation Partnerships offer an ideal opportunity for the sector to develop initiatives that will promote women's participation in farming.

Since 2015, my Department has provided support for rural female entrepreneurs under the accelerating the creation of rural nascent start-ups, ACORNS, programme.  This initiative involves the development and implementation of a tailored programme to support early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland.  Over 400 female entrepreneurs have participated in the programme since its introduction, with the ACORNS 9 programme commencing this month.

Food Vision 2030 also recognises the importance of gender equality.  One action under the plan was to hold a national dialogue on women in agriculture, which I hosted on 1 February this year, St. Brigid's Day.  The dialogue was chaired by former Tánaiste and Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan.  The outcome of the discussions is currently being compiled into a report that will inform policy in this regard in the coming years.

I have also committed to achieving better gender representation on State boards. I am delighted to see several appointments secured by highly qualified female candidates in 2023 and to report that we are well on track to achieve the 40% gender representation target set for the 12 State boards under my remit.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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The 2020 census of agriculture showed that the agricultural labour force amounted to 278,600 people, with 26.96% of these being female and 73.04% male. Data on farm structure in 2016 showed that, of the 137,100 family farms, females were registered as being in charge of only 12%. Just 3.8% of farms are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as being in joint female and male names. Some 26.96% of the workforce is made up of women but the number of females deemed as being in charge by the Minister's Department is very low. An EU workforce survey shows 40.1% of the agriculture workforce being women. We have a lot of challenges in this area.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Burke has put his finger on the outstanding challenge as regards the work we have to do in agriculture and farming to make sure the progress we have seen across many other areas of the agrifood sector is reflected at farm level and we start to see a higher proportion of women taking up the role of farm holder and farming within the farm gates. If you call a vet to your farm, it is now likely that a female vet will arrive because we have seen more women than men coming through veterinary colleges. There are now more women than men in many practices. In going to the agricultural colleges, I also see very strong representation of women in many of the different courses in agriculture and the food sector. Making that change as regards women taking their rightful place as farm holders, farm owners and farmers is a slower process but it is one I am committed to pushing forward as Minister. That is why I have taken that step regarding the 60% grant aid to support female farmers under the capital investment scheme. We need to look at taking every step we possibly can to deal with what has been a cultural challenge in this country over the years. The son or nephew was always preferred over a daughter or niece when deciding who would take over a farm.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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On the 3.8% figure, where joint registration is involved, surely the Department can make more progress on that. Some 3.8% of farms are jointly registered with the Department, both male and female. That is a very low figure.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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That is something we are looking at. We are trying to encourage partnerships. It is something we want to make real progress on. If the Deputy has any advice, our ears and our minds are very much open with regard to what steps we can take. The Women in Agriculture conference dialogue, which was led out by the former Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan, earlier this year, had the objective of bringing women from all aspects of farming together to look at these ideas. The Minister of State, Senator Hackett, contributed very strongly to it and has a very strong interest in this also. Much progress has happened in the agrifood sector generally. It is much slower within the farmgate and that is something we want to see changed. This comes from a cultural backdrop where it was not culturally encouraged in the same way for a young woman to take up agriculture and to become a farmer as it was for a young man. We are seeing that changing. If one goes to a mart now, and in farmyards across the country, one sees this change. There is a great appetite from both genders to become farmers. We have to keep encouraging that to ensure we see that followed through with regard to women taking their rightful place as farm holders also.