Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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49. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated full-year cost of the income volatility measure to support the farming sector outlined in Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45379/24]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In Budget 2025, I indicated that an income volatility measure to support the farming sector would require detailed consideration of complex issues of policy around how this would operate in the context of financial regulation, governance and legal structures. Therefore, the parameters of any such scheme are yet to be fully considered. Accordingly, there is not a basis upon which to estimate a cost.

However, the Deputy may be interested to note that the tax code already provides for incoming averaging which may assist farmers with income volatility. Further details can be located at the following link - www.revenue.ie/en/self-assessment-and-self-employment/farm/farming/income-averaging.aspx#:~:text=Income%20averaging%20allows%20farmers%20to,a%20minimum%20of%20five%20years .