ICMSA “perplexed” by delay in publishing Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming

The President of ICMSA has said that the continuing delays on the release of the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming is becoming “as concerning as it is perplexing”.  Kilkenny farmer Denis Drennan said that the Commission’ findings were expected to be published at the end of June, nearly six weeks ago, and it was now becoming obvious that whatever recommendations were brought forward or resulted from the Commission’s deliberations, could not be incorporated into Budget 2026.

The net effect of this delay, he continued, was the loss of another year when it was more urgent than ever to address the most obvious obstacles to the generational renewal now emerging as the single most pressing concern all over the state and right across every sector.

“We can’t understand it; the Commission was reported to be on the verge of publishing its findings six weeks ago. What’s the delay? What’s the problem and why have we allowed the opportunity to at least make a start on these problems in Budget 2026 to slip by?  It’s inexplicable and poor and the net effect is that we all – as a sector – have lost another whole year at precisely the time when this question of succession and generational renewal is emerging as critical and demanding immediate attention”, he said

“We can’t get the next generation into farming, and we’ve all identified more-or-less the same problems in our various submissions made last Feb and March.  We don’t have the time to lose and yet it looks very much like we’ve just lost effectively a whole year till we will be able to do something in a budget – the only material way of addressing some of the financial obstacles to generational renewal.”, said Mr. Drennan.

Mr. Drennan said that every single young farmer engaged with through the ICMSA Young Farmer Forum had laid out a list of obstacles to their entry into farming and all invariably started with ‘financial uncertainty’.

He said that while ICMSA was very aware that not everything could be done in ‘one fell swoop’, it was imperative that a start be made and he pointed out that his association had topped their list of submissions to the Commission with an appeal to see Budget 2026 introduce a tool or scheme to deal specifically with the excessive income volatility that was putting off so many young people from considering a career in farming.

“There was a commitment made last year to look at this, and it’s the single biggest obstacle cited by the young people themselves. The Commission’s recommendations would have given great support to ICMSA’s efforts to get this into Budget 2026. But it looks like the findings of the Commission are going to be so late that it will be impossible for any of them to be taken into consideration for the Budget in October.  ICMSA considers this a wasted opportunity, and we’d urge the Commission – even at this very late stage – to publish their findings so that we can try and convince Government to adopt the most urgent and necessary measures aimed at generational renewal”, concluded Mr. Drennan.

Ends     11 August 2025

Denis Drennan, 086-8389401

President, ICMSA.

Or

Cathal MacCarthy, 087-6168758

ICMSA Press Office