ICMSA calls for 12-month extension to stamp duty relief for farms

ICMSA President Jackie Cahill has called on Finance Minister Michael Noonan to grant an extension to the Farm Consolidation Stamp Duty Relief for a further year as part of Finance Bill 2011, currently being debated in the Dáil.

The current relief ends on June 30. Mr Cahill said the slow pace of structural change has regularly been identified as a barrier to the development of efficient commercial farming in Ireland.

He said measures around efficient consolidation became even more important after the targets set down by Food Harvest 2020 and the increased production that will be required on a national level and on dairy farms.