Senator Erin McGreehan has welcomed reports that her party colleagues Minister Jack Chambers, Minister Darragh O’Brien and Minister Charlie McConalogue are working to exclude active farmland from Residential Zoned Land Tax in the upcoming Budget.

The Louth Senator said the pausing and deferral of RZLT by another 12 months, as well as the design of a new RZLT system that excludes active farmland, will give certainty to farmers.

She said: “It is hugely welcome that a top Budget priority for my party colleague, Minister Chambers, is the exclusion of active farmland from RZLT and the pausing and deferral of the rollout of RZLT for a further 12 months.

“The work underway to design a new RZLT system by Minister Chambers, Minister O’Brien and Minister McConalogue that excludes active farmers will, I hope, help to alleviate the fear and anxiety felt by many farmers who have farmland that would have been affected.

“By excluding active farmers from RZLT, we would be protecting both farmland and food production while showing that we support farming livelihoods.

“As a party, Fianna Fáil places a priority on partnering with farmers and rural communities.

“We are continuing to listen to and engage with farming organisations and rural stakeholders.

“We are committed continuing our support for farming and food production.

“There are varied significant challenges across the farming sector and we must do all we can to ensure the viability of farming livelihoods and rural communities.”

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