Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Minister for Finance if sections 74, 81D and Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, of the Finance Act 2014 dealing with relief for certain leases of farmland have come into force yet if not, when they will; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12259/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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One of the recommendations of the Agri-taxation Review was that stamp duty relief be given in relation to certain leases of farmland to encourage more productive use of land.

As a result of Section 74 of the Finance Act this recommendation is now reflected in Section 81D of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999. The section provides, subject to certain conditions, for relief from stamp duty to encourage the long-term leasing of land to active farmers.

Changes to the stamp duty provisions pertaining to farmland leasing provided for in the Finance Act 2014 are however subject to a commencement order pending State Aid approval by the European Commission.

Responsibility for discussions with the Commission in this regard lie with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which is currently engaged in determining whether there is a basis for its introduction under State Aid rules.