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The number of people seeking blood relative or consanguinity relief on stamp duty for farmland more than doubled last year.
Applications rose from 622 in 2017 to 1,647 in 2018. The amount of money claimed under the relief also increased , from €1.2m to €22m in 2018.
The rise in applicants comes on the back of a change in law which saw consanguinity relief on land transfers drop to 1% .
The law also changed to allow people over 67 years of age to become eligible for the relief.
Consanguinity relief is applicable for close blood relatives such as uncles and nephews but cannot be used on leases or on transactions involving cousins or in-laws, according to the Department of Agriculture.
The person who receives the land must farm it for a minimum of six years, hold a relevant farming qualification and spend at least half their working time on the farm.
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