Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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155. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department is taking regarding succession in farming, in particular the delivery of a comprehensive succession policy that specifically addresses the barriers to entry into the agriculture sector for young farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25613/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The new Programme for Government prioritises “supporting inter-generational farm succession”. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, states that generational renewal in farming is critically important to ensure the future viability and social sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector and of rural Ireland.

Demographic challenges for the agricultural sector are not unique to Ireland and the challenge of attracting young people into a career in farming is widely recognised, both at national and EU level, including in the recent EU Commission Vision for Agriculture and Food.Under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027, I am providing substantial investment in achieving generational renewal and measures include:

• A Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers’ Scheme, to help young farmers establish their farming businesses. Payments under 2024 CISYF commenced in early December 2024. To date payments totalling €35.6 million have issued.
• The National Reserve 2023-2027 provides support to two priority categories of Young Farmer and New Farmer. Payments of some €3.1 million have issued in respect of the 2024 scheme.
• Additionally, under the TAMS capital investment measure, a higher grant rate of 60% for qualified young farmers continues to be available.
• A Collaborative Farming Grant Scheme to provide financial support to encourage farmers to form partnerships with young, trained farmers.
• The Succession Planning Advice Grant provides financial support towards the costs incurred for independent legal and financial advice for older farmers about succession planning.