Michael Finucane
Question:138 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a farm retirement pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [5939/00]
Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.
The person named applied for an early retirement pension on 31 August 1999. Because of the large volume of applications under the scheme which were received in the closing months of 1999, there is a significant backlog at present. The applications on hands are being processed by local office staff in conjunction with other priority work.
It is hoped that progress will be made in this case in the next six weeks. I would point out that when the processing of an application is delayed in this way there is no financial loss to a retiring farmer. The operational procedures for the scheme specifically ensure that the date of receipt in the Department of a valid application determines the date from which payment is made.
Michael Finucane
Question:139 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a person (details supplied) in County Limerick is eligible under the new guidelines for the farm retirement scheme. [5946/00]
A new scheme of early retirement from farming was submitted to the EU Commission in December as part of my Department's draft rural development plan for the period 2000-2006. The Commission has six months from the date of submission to consider the plan.
Until the Commission has approved the plan it is not possible to state what the terms and conditions of the new scheme will be. Accordingly, I cannot confirm the eligibility of the person named for the proposed new scheme.