Almost 1100 farmers in Offaly could be forced out of farming under new EU CAP proposals

MIDLANDS North West MEP Ciaran Mullooly has warned of a deeply concerning development under the European Commission’s proposed reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Based on CSO  data, it is estimated that 1099 farmers in County Offaly alone may be forced out of farming upon reaching the State Pension age of 66.

“This represents one of the most direct and damaging policy threats to active older farmers in Co Offaly that I have ever seen,” Mullooly stated in Brussels. “These are individuals who have dedicated their lives to agriculture, contributed substantially to rural communities and the national economy, and who wish to remain active in farming beyond the retirement age. Forcing them off the land without offering viable alternatives is not just unjust—it is a betrayal of decades of service.”

Mullooly MEP is calling for the introduction of a well-funded, respectful Retirement Scheme for Farmers. He points to the successful Early Farm Retirement Scheme, which operated from 1994 to 1998 and saw over 8,000 farmers participate. The scheme provided an annual payment of €15,000 for ten years to farmers who voluntarily stepped back and transferred their farms to the next generation.

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“This is not a radical proposal. It’s a practical and proven policy that worked before—and can work again,” Mullooly said. “We must reintroduce such incentives to support voluntary, dignified retirement, rather than forcing farmers out of the sector as if they were surplus to requirements.”

He stressed that farming must be treated as a business, not simply a vocation: “If we want to retain skilled farmers and attract a new generation into the sector, we must ensure that it offers a viable livelihood comparable to other professions.”

Ciaran Mullooly concluded with a clear call to action: the next CAP must include meaningful provisions for older farmers to retire with dignity—and for younger farmers to enter the sector with confidence.

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