Deputy Brendan Smith has welcomed reports that his 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 Cavan-Monaghan TD 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.

He said: “The RZLT was due to come into effect for farm families from next February and had been causing stress and anxiety among those who were to be impacted.

“The reports that a 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 is hugely welcome.

“There is work underway to design a new RZLT system by Minister Chambers, Minister O’Brien and Minister McConalogue that excludes active farmers. This shows that Fianna Fail in government will protect farmland and food production.

“In government, we place a top priority on supporting farming livelihoods and we are committed to supporting the farming sector tackle the challenges they face and protect the viability of farm families and farming livelihoods.”