Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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100. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will publish a plan on farm succession and generational renewal. [36528/25]

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 social sustainability in 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.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.