Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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479. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he proposes to introduce additional measures to assist in reducing the sales of farm land to non-farming interests, and particularly large-scale businesses, with specific reference to the need to provide more support to small farm holders who may wish to buy neighbouring farm land for farming purposes when such options arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28815/25]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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494. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if cross-Government measures will be introduced to reduce the sale of land to non-farming interests and particularly large-scale businesses with specific reference to the need to support small farm holders who may wish to buy neighbouring farm land to help make their holdings viable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28827/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 494 together.

Issues relating to the ownership of private property are subject to very significant and complex legal, constitutional and policy considerations. Any statutory limitations on the sale of land, including farmland, would be subject to such all of these considerations.

Any such proposals would also involve imposing restrictions on the constitutional rights of farmers wishing to sell their land.

Currently, my Department is not considering any such restriction and I am not aware of any other proposal across Government regarding measures to place restrictions on the sale of land.