Written answers

Tuesday, 16 November 2021

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Common Agricultural Policy

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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680. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the 60% TAMS rate available to women between the ages of 40 and 55 years available under the proposed CAP Strategic Plan will be available to those without an agricultural qualification if they are already the head of the farm holding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56050/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed under the On-Farm Capital investment scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) that a general grant rate of 40% will be available for eligible investments. It is also proposed in the CSP that eligible female farmers, who meet the eligibility criteria may qualify for grant aid at a rate of 60%. An individual investment ceiling of €90,000 or a ceiling of €160,000 in the case of a partnership application is proposed.

The proposed that eligible female farmers are those:

- Aged between 18 years of age and 55 at any time during the calendar year in which she submits an application for support;

- Meet the conditions for being 'head and having control of the entire holding';

- Meets the requirements for the appropriate training and/or skills required at the time of application.

Female applicants who do not meet the criteria above will remain eligible to submit an application under the On-Farm Capital investment scheme at the standard rate of 40%.

I believe that this measure will act as a catalyst in driving greater levels of farm transfer to daughters or nieces, something we have not seen enough of.

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