asked the Minister for Lands if he has examined the proposals of Dr. Sicco Mansholt for the retirement of farmers of late middle age and for the provision of generous pensions based on the capital value of the farmlands vacated; and how these provisions compare with the abortive scheme introduced by the Government a few years ago.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Retirement of Farmers.
25.
I can assure the Deputy that I am keeping under close scrutiny the various and progressive versions of Dr. Mansholt's proposals relating to the retirement of farmers and the provision of pensions. So far the council of the EEC has not made any definitive pronouncement on these proposals but I understand that they may come up for discussion shortly, arising from a resolution submitted last month by the commission to the Council of Ministers.
Though the life annuity scheme authorised by section 6 of the Land Act, 1965, is less successful than originally anticipated it is not abortive. There are, in fact, 31 applicants receiving pensions varying from £79 to £904 per annum. These have surrendered about 1,550 acres for land settlement purposes. There is a special provision in the scheme whereby a vendor may be granted a right of residence for life in the dwelling house on the lands being sold—and he can also get a letting of a small area of accommodation land if he wishes. In the case of elderly or blind vendors so much of a life annuity as does not exceed £3 a week is not reckonable when computing means for old age pensions Acts purposes.