Written answers
Thursday, 3 July 2025
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Agriculture Schemes
Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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92. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he would consider reintroducing the young farmer installation aid scheme to support new entrants into farming. [36529/25]
Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The new Programme for Government emphasises “supporting inter-generational farm succession.” Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, highlights that ensuring generational renewal in farming is vital for the sector’s long-term viability and the sustainability of rural Ireland.
Demographic challenges facing agriculture are not unique to Ireland; the difficulty of attracting young people into farming is a recognised issue at both national and EU levels, including in the recent EU Commission Vision for Agriculture and Food.While the original Installation Aid Scheme played a role in supporting young farmers, there are a range of supports currently available for young farmers. Under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. I am committing significant investment to promote generational renewal, with measures including:
- A Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers’ Scheme, supporting young farmers in establishing their businesses. Payments for 2024 under the CISYF began in early December 2024.
- The National Reserve 2023-2027, which offers support to two priority groups—Young Farmers and New Farmers—with approximately €3.1 million paid out for the 2024 scheme.
- Under the TAMS capital investment measure, a 60% grant rate for qualified young farmers remains available.
- A Collaborative Farming Grant Scheme to financially encourage partnerships between existing farmers and trained young farmers.
- The Succession Planning Advice Grant, which helps cover costs for independent legal and financial advice to older farmers planning succession.
Beyond the support measures available through the CSP, there are also comprehensive national taxation policies, access to finance supports, and extensive education and training programs.
Last October, an independent Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming was established. The Commission is taking an objective, evidence-based approach examining the various factors involved that contribute to the age demographic in the sector. It is engaging closely with stakeholders, including a public consultation. The Commission is making significant progress and I am expecting a report on policy options in the coming weeks, which will ensure that we have an objective analysis of the issue in advance of preparations for the next CAP.
Despite these substantial efforts, I acknowledge farm holder demographics are unchanging, which demonstrates that farm succession is a complex issue influenced by numerous factors. I will therefore continue to monitor and review the supports available for young farmers.
Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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93. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when farmers will have the opportunity to avail of landscape actions and carry out works in upland co-operation areas under ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36363/25]
Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme or ACRES is Ireland’s national agri-environment climate measure provided under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. The Government has committed €1.5 billion to the scheme over its duration, the largest amount ever allocated to an agri-environment scheme. There are currently some 54,000 participants, with intake approved into the Scheme in two tranches. There are two separate approaches within the scheme, ACRES General and ACRES Co-Operation.
Landscape Actions are targeted measures within the Co-Operation approach of the scheme which focus on issues such as invasive species management, encroaching scrub, threatened species and water quality thereby offering benefits to the local environment. Participants in the ACRES Co-Operation approach will be aided by their local ACRES Co-Operation Team in relation to the recommendation of, and application for, appropriate Landscape Actions that are suitable and relevant to their local area. The Co-Operation team will create and submit a Landscape Action Annual Works Plan on behalf of the participant. This plan will then be screened by the Co-Operation Team prior to approval.
A process involving an appropriate assessment, public consultation, budgeting, drafting specifications and development of functionality must be undertaken before the opening of the Landscape Actions application window. This process is progressing and it is expected that the application window will open in the coming weeks. This would facilitate the issuing of decision letters later in 2025 with payments expected to issue in 2026. A provisional list of draft Landscape Actions along with further information is available on the Department website.
Further details will be provided in due course.
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