Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

467. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding avenues available to a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42609/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, women are taking on a more formal role in agriculture, with increased acknowledgement of their contribution to management and labour input on family farms. They play a major role in farm diversification and their off-farm employment often makes a vital contribution to farm household viability. However, the latest available data indicates that farms with a sole female farm holder registered on my Department's client database accounted for 13% of farms; 10% of eligible land; and 8% of payments.  Only 3.8% of farms are registered in joint female/male names.

A number of clarifications and amendments to the Irish tax code have been driven by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, to reduce taxation measures acting as a de facto barrier to greater female participation in agriculture, and particularly to registering farms in joint names.

My Department also funds the ACORNS programme to address the skills, enterprise and capability gaps of rural start up female entrepreneurs. ACORNS, financed by my Department’s Rural Innovation and Development Fund, is a valuable opportunity to encourage increased farm diversification through mentoring female rural entrepreneurs in a wide range of sectors.

The programme provides participants with the knowledge, support and networking opportunities to meet and even exceed their business goals. Over a hundred women have already graduated from it and many of these past participants have reported increased sales, exports and jobs as a result of the programme. In August I was delighted to announce the launch of year 3 of the ACORNS programme with 56 new places.

I wish to commend the founders of North West Women in Farming Ireland. I am very pleased to see the emergence of "women in agriculture" groups around the country and I hope that the sector will support them.