Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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100. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures to encourage more women to take part in farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18541/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Census of Agriculture completed in 2020 reported that approximately 13% of farm holders in Ireland were female.

I am very pleased that, for the first time, Ireland’s new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) includes a number of specific measures aimed at increasing the participation of women in farming. It will deliver some €10 billion to farm families over the next five years, including innovative proposals to promote gender equality:

- An increased grant rate of 60% under the Capital Investment Scheme to fund investments by trained women farmers, due to launch in May of this year.

- The promotion of women-only Knowledge Transfer (KT) Groups.

- Improved recording and reporting of gender data and the leveraging of the National CAP Network to increase the involvement of all women in the implementation of CAP.

- All CAP interventions will be developed with a gender-aware perspective to ensure there are no inherent barriers to women's participation.

- European Innovation Partnerships offer an ideal opportunity for the sector to develop initiatives that will promote women's participation in farming.

In addition, since 2015, the Department has provided free support for rural female entrepreneurs under the ACORNS programme. This initiative involves the development and implementation of a tailored programme to support early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland. Up to 50 new female entrepreneurs in rural locations are participating in the ACORNS 8 programme due to conclude this month.

Food Vision 2030, our shared 10-year strategy for the agrifood sector, recognises the importance of gender equality to its long-term sustainability and includes actions to promote and improve gender balance.

One of those actions was to hold a National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture, which I hosted on 1st February this year, St Brigid's Day. The Dialogue was chaired by former Tánaiste and Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, and it examined gender issues in farming and the agrifood sector generally via discussion panels, guest speakers and workshops on themes including:

- Leadership and Visibility

- Education and Awareness

- Sustainability

- Legal and Financial.

The outcome of the discussions is currently being compiled into a report that will inform policy in this regard in the coming years. This will be strengthened by a specific research project on women’s participation in agriculture, and ongoing engagement with stakeholders. I look forward to making further progress on this important issue.

I am proud to be the first Minister to have a specific focus on supporting women farmers and I will continue to support them in the time ahead.