Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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401. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to increase State aid to farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28753/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Taxation is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Finance. That being said both Departments work closely in relation to agri-taxation measures in line with my objectives in relation to the wider agri-food sector.

The reliefs referred to by the Deputy are subject to Agricultural Block Exemption Regulation (ABER) 2022/2472 and particularly article 18 (7) which sets a ceiling total amount of State Aid of 100,000 euro per young farmer.

As you may be aware the current ABER regulations were the subject of review and amendment in 2022. The revision aligned the rules with the current EU strategic priorities, in particular the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), as well as to the European Green Deal. Member States and other interested parties were provided with the opportunity to comment via public consultation in March 2022. At the time the proposed new thresholds were considered adequate having been increased from 70,000 to 100,000 euro at the time. The current regulations came into force with effect from 1st January 2023 and are to remain in force until 31st December 2029.

The ceiling applying to the tax reliefs is applicable to all EU member states and any increase in the ceilings would need to be the subject of negotiation at EU level.