Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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745. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to support generational renewal in agriculture with the essential requirement for low-cost finance and installation aid to young farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51381/25]

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. There are a number of supports for generational renewal currently available to farmers under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. These supports are complemented by a suite of strong national taxation measures and access to finance supports, as well as advisory and education & training supports.

Farm succession is a complex issue and there are many factors that impact farmers’ decisions. The Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming was established to examine these issues and, earlier this month, I announced publication of their report. The Commission has produced a thorough analysis and made 31 recommendations across a wide range of areas including CAP Supports; Pensions; Taxation; Access to Finance; Access to Land; Collaborative Arrangements; Advisory Services; Education and Training; Gender Balance; and the Overall Attractiveness of the Sector. An implementation group within my Department will now carefully consider these recommendations, including recommendations on access to finance and installation aid, and will engage with agricultural stakeholders and the relevant public bodies.

In relation to access to finance, I meet and liaise with the main banks regularly on access to finance issues relating to the sector and there is also good cross-Departmental cooperation with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the Department of Finance. Several initiatives have been delivered through the publicly owned Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to address identified market gaps, including the €500m Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme (GSLS). Launched in September 2023, it provides long-term low-cost investment support to SMEs, including those in the agri sector, for growth, resilience and environmental sustainability. The availability of unsecured loans up to €500,000 via the GSLS makes it a viable source of funding for agri-SME’s, especially those with low or no available security. It also serves young farmers and smaller-scale farmers, who often do not have the leverage to negotiate more favourable terms with their bank

John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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748. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the adverse weather conditions experienced in September 2025, if he will consider extending the slurry spreading deadline by two weeks in order to assist farmers in managing slurry and ensuring compliance with regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51594/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations 2022 (SI 113 of 2022, as amended).

Under these Regulations the closed period for applying slurry to land now commences on the 1st of October annually.

In 2022 the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, following consultation with my Department, published the scientific criteria that must be considered before granting any extension to the slurry spreading season. Due to the increased risk of loss of nutrients to water at this time of year these criteria are designed to only apply in justified exceptional circumstances.

The weather in 2025 has been good, with the warmest and sunniest spring on record with rainfall below average everywhere providing good slurry spreading conditions. The summer months have also provided good opportunities for slurry spreading with indications it may be the warmest summer on record with rainfall levels nationally close to, or slightly below, average.

There is now a significantly increased focus on water quality across the entire agri-food sector.

Part of these efforts relate to improved timing of nutrient application to align with the crop's needs and maximising the value of the nutrients present in organic manures. As articulated by Teagasc, slurry should be spread when the potential for Nitrogen losses is low and the uptake of nutrients by a growing crop is high. These conditions typically occur in the Spring, and not the Autumn, where reducing sunshine hours increasingly limit growth and increase the risk of nutrient loss.

Farmers have been making great strides in implementing actions at farm level to improve water quality and the Government is providing strong incentives to support this work which is underpinned by science. It is important that this national effort to improve water quality continues.

The relevant scientific criteria do not support an extension to the slurry spreading deadline this year. The closed period for slurry application will begin on the 1st of October as provided for in the Regulations.