James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 534: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding a farm consolidation certificate in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18762/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Section 104 of the Finance Act 2007 amended the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 to grant stamp duty relief where a farmer sells qualifying land and purchases qualifying land in order to consolidate his or her holding. To be eligible to claim the stamp duty relief, the sale and purchase of qualifying land(s) must occur within 18 months of each other and before 30 June 2011. Land sold and purchased as part of a Farm Consolidation must comply with the following conditions:

the land must be in the State;

the land must be agricultural land or afforested land – it cannot include bog land; and

the land must not contain residential buildings.

Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, issues Farm Consolidation Certificates to qualifying farmers in respect of applications that comply with the conditions of farm consolidation. Administration of the Farm Consolidation Certificate is an operational matter for Teagasc and accordingly the Minister has no role in determining eligibility.