Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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759. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of programme for Government commitments (details supplied); if they have been completed; if not, the timeline on their progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48010/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Details of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 are not yet complete and consultations with stakeholders are continuing. The EU proposals for the new CAP from 2023 include provision for supports for generational renewal. With regard to direct payment supports under the next CAP, my Department proposes to operate a National Reserve under the new CAP from 2023 to prioritise access to payment entitlements for the categories of young farmers and new farmers. My Department also proposes to operate the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers from 2023 which will build on the success of the Young Farmers Scheme in place since 2015. Both schemes under the new CAP will require beneficiaries to hold a recognised agricultural educational qualification.

With regard to supports for young farmers under Pillar II of the new CAP, the proposed new On-Farm Investment Scheme under the Cap Strategic Plan will address key environmental objectives through the provision of grant aid for new capital investments that contribute to environmental, farm safety or animal health and welfare objectives. It is being proposed to provide a higher payment to qualified Young Farmers. Grant aid at rates between 40 to 60 % are being proposed.

Government will continue to complement measures under the new CAP with national support to facilitate generational renewal through measures such as Land Mobility/Long Term Leasing Tax Relief, other agri-taxation measures and Succession Farm Partnerships. Taken together, the combination of EU and national supports for generational renewal is significant and the complementary nature of this dual approach aligns with an EU report published in April 2021 which stated that Member States that followed a strategic, coherent and integrated approach where national measures were complementary to CAP support were more likely to achieve a positive impact.

The outline of any schemes supported under the next CAP and details of the Terms and Conditions for eligibility under such schemes will be set out once Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan is completed and approved.