Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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214. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on a succession planning advice grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27656/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I have introduced a Succession Planning Advice Grant which is a scheme specifically aimed at encouraging best practice in intergenerational land transfer in order to address, among other things, significant generational imbalances in farming.

The grant is to encourage and support farmers aged 60 years and above to seek succession planning advice by contributing up to 50% of vouched legal, accounting and advisory costs, subject to a maximum payment of €1,500.

Applications may be submitted all year round, but payments will be made in annual tranches. Payments under tranche 1 which had an opening date of 19th September 2023 and a closing date of 31st December 2023 issued in Q1 2024. Payments of €61,354 issued to 52 eligible applicants . A second tranche opened on 1st January 2024 and will remain open to 31 December 2024, with payments to issue in early 2025.

With reference to the applicant referred to by the Deputy, a succession planning advice grant application was received from the applicant on 24th January 2024 as part of tranche 2 for SPAG. This application did not contain any documentary evidence, provision of documentary evidence is a requirement of the scheme as set out in the terms and conditions. This was communicated to the applicant and no further correspondence has been received from the applicant.