Irish government has turned its back on the next generation in Budget 2026

Speaking after the Budget announcement, Ms O’Neill said: “There are aspects of today’s Budget that deserve to be acknowledged and welcomed.

“The extension of essential agricultural tax reliefs that Macra had sought including the 100% Young Trained Farmer Stamp Duty Relief, Farm Restructuring Capital Gains Tax Relief and Farm Consolidation Stamp Duty Relief along with Accelerated Capital Allowance for slurry storage which are now extended up to the end of 2029 provides certainty and stability to farm families who are trying to plan for the years ahead.

“These measures recognise the pressures that family farms are under and the need to maintain competitiveness while facing rising costs and market volatility.”

Macra has also welcomed the allocation of €85 million towards the TB eradication programme, a long-standing and costly burden on Irish farmers.

She added: “TB is not just a financial challenge; it is a huge emotional strain on families who have to watch their herds impacted by restrictions and losses year after year.

“The allocation of €85 million is a significant investment and a positive move that will hopefully accelerate progress towards meaningful eradication.”

The announcement of increased places in the veterinary college was described as a “strategic and necessary intervention.”

Ms O'Neill remarked: “The shortage of vets in rural Ireland is a real and growing problem. Farmers rely on veterinary services not just for compliance, but for the day-to-day running of their businesses.

“Increasing college places is a practical step that will, in time, help to ease this shortage and ensure that rural communities have access to the services they need.”

The organisation also welcomed the announcement of additional funding for the National Broadband Plan, a necessary support to young people and young farmers living and working in rural Ireland.

However, despite these positive developments, Macra has expressed deep frustration and disappointment at the government’s ongoing failure to tackle generational renewal.

The organisation has long highlighted the need for concrete measures to support Generational Renewal but unfortunately, Budget 2026 and the Irish government has failed to deliver for young farmers.

She said: “For the third consecutive Budget, we have seen no clear commitment to supporting young farmers or facilitating farm succession.

“There are no new incentives, no targeted schemes, and no structured policy direction to address the single biggest challenge facing Irish agriculture today: the ageing of our farming population.”

This failure is even more stark given the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s €2.3 billion budget for 2026.

The Macra president said: “Within a budget of €2.3 billion, it is frankly unacceptable that not a single new measure has been allocated to support generational renewal. The resources are there, but the political will is not.”

Ireland has one of the lowest rates of young farmers in the EU, with the average age of farmers continuing to rise.

Macra has repeatedly called for a comprehensive generational renewal strategy, including enhanced installation supports, access to land measures, and succession planning incentives.

Ms O’Neill warned: “Young people want to farm. They want to innovate, diversify, and build sustainable businesses. But they are being met with financial barriers, bureaucratic delays, and a lack of political will.

“This government is failing to recognise that without young people entering the sector, there is no future for Irish farming.”

She concluded with a stark message for policymakers: “You cannot secure the future of rural Ireland if you refuse to invest in the people who will shape it. Generational renewal is not optional – it is essential.”