Each year, we witness the graduation of numerous young farmers through the "green cert" programme. Not only are these individuals environmentally conscious but they also possess the essential knowledge and skills needed to transition the practices on their farms towards more eco-friendly ones. However, significant barriers exist. Once such obstacle is the failure of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to grant concessions for farmers under the age of 40 who possess their own herd number. Regrettably, these young farmers are ineligible to participate in environmental schemes such as the agri-climate rural environment scheme 2024, ACRES 2024. A consequence of this is that young farmers, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, remain excluded from such programmes for extended periods, without any clear timeline for their inclusion in initiatives such as ACRES. It is crucial that we recognise that farmers are wholeheartedly dedicated to improving their farms environmentally, as is evident from the overwhelming demand for ACRES. How can we continue to reduce our emissions if we do not allow young farmers, who represent the future of the agriculture sector, to participate in vital environmental schemes such as ACRES?

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. It is important that we as a Government encourage young farmers, so I am not sure why the restrictions are in place. I will make inquiries today with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, and revert to Deputy Dillon with a more detailed reply.