Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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947. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline his views on supports for farmers that are purchasing land to consolidate their farm holdings and incentives that can be introduced; when these would have effect with regard to the cost of such consolidation and the position on State levies that may apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24258/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Capital Gains Tax Relief for Farm Restructuring provides for a rollover relief for farm restructuring and parcel swaps, with certain conditions, to ensure more efficient farm holdings. Initially introduced in 2013 only for individual land parcels, a subsequent change sought by my Department now allows for whole-farm replacement and an extended timeframe for the first transaction to occur. To be eligible for the relief, the sale and purchase of qualifying land(s) must occur within 24 months of each other. Relief is only available to claimants who are issued with a Farm Restructuring Certificate by Teagasc.

As part of Budget 2018, I introduced a Stamp Duty Relief for Farm Consolidation. This relief is part of a package of measures I agreed with the Minister for Finance following the increase of the general stamp duty rate in the last Budget.

Both reliefs are important environmentally and economically for farmers seeking to consolidate fragmented holdings.