Land prices raised in Dáil

THE implications of rapidly increasing land prices for farmers hoping to expand, or those wishing to enter farming for the first time, have been raised in the Dáil.

Labour TD Michael D Higgins asked Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan if her attention has been drawn to recent figures published by the Central Statistics Office showing that agricultural land prices rose by more than 25% in the last quarter of 2004.

In a written answer the Minister said low levels of land mobility have been a long-term feature of Irish farming. The number of land parcels placed on the market annually is relatively small, and Ireland’s strong economic growth has increased demand for all forms of land.