Vol. 418 No. 7
39 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has considered the implications for land transfer of the payment of contributory pensions to farmers who have paid PRSI contributions as self-employed persons; and if his Department have considered the use of other incentives to facilitate the early transfer to young farmers of family farms.
My Department are concerned with the need to promote the greater mobility of land to increase agricultural efficiency.
Following the Government commitment in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress a new development programme is being negotiated for the agriculture and food sector. In the formulation of this programme account will be taken of the need to promote structural change in farming including the promotion of transfers of family farms to young farmers. The implications of changes in the Social Welfare code will be one of the elements to be considered in this exercise.
