Galway East TD calls for farm sucession scheme

GALWAY East TD Albert Dolan has called for a farm succession scheme to be set up to provide a viable future for the next generation of farmers on the family farm.

Just over four per cent of farm holders in Ireland are under the age of 35. The figure for farm holders aged 65 and over stands at 38 per cent, and Deputy Dolan has said that a greater emphasis must be put on supporting both generations through the farm succession process.

“We have been talking about the age profile of Irish farming for many years, but the figures tell us that we simply have not shifted the dial,” said the Fianna Fáil TD.

“Many young people want to farm but face uncertainty around succession, access to land and the financial challenges involved in taking over the family farm.

“Succession should not be about telling older farmers to stop farming. Instead, it should provide farm families with a pathway to plan earlier, giving certainty to the retiring generation while allowing younger farmers to build and develop successful farm businesses.”

Deputy Dolan is asking the Department of Agriculture to review current succession measures and introduce enhanced supports to entice farmers to engage in generation renewal.

“While existing measures have helped some farm families, the current supports are not delivering generational renewal at the scale required,” he explained.

“We need policies that support family farms, strengthen rural communities and give young farmers the opportunity to build their future at home. The future of Irish agriculture depends on getting succession right.”