Charlie McConalogue

The government’s Succession Planning Advice Grant (SPAG) will encourage and support farmers aged 60 and above to seek succession planning advice by contributing up to 50 per cent of vouched legal, accounting, and advisory costs, subject to a maximum payment of €1,500.

Agriculture minister Charlie McConalogue said: “While not unique to Ireland, I recognise that there are considerable demographic challenges in the agricultural sector and am therefore very pleased to announce this new support initiative under Ireland’s CAP strategic plan.

“This scheme will help older farmers to plan for their future and the future of their farms, by providing financial support towards the costs of legal and financial advice for succession planning.

“It is very important to be able to assist farmers in making what can be very difficult but ultimately very important decisions about the future of their farming enterprise.

“This scheme will be an important addition to the range of supports for generational renewal already in place, including significant agri-taxation supports; and strong supports for young farmers and collaborative farming under the CAP strategic plan.”

The scheme aims to encourage best practice in intergenerational land transfer to address, among other things, significant generational imbalances within farming.

An information webinar for the new scheme is scheduled for 6 September 2023, 7pm.

The scheme itself open from 19 September. Paper application forms will be available at the National Ploughing Championships and from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine website. Applications will be open until the end of 2023 and first tranche payment will be in the first quarter of 2024.

Eligibility will extend to farmers aged 60 years and above who are currently not in a succession farm partnership, farming at least a minimum of three hectares of land at the time of application, and who have been farming for a minimum of two years prior to application.