Vol. 451 No. 2
21 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will request the inclusion by the EU of non-viable farm holdings under the farm retirement scheme to allow young farmers time to redevelop holdings over a period of time while retaining their income from an outside employment. [6261/95]
The early retirement scheme for farmers provides an incentive for older farmers to cease farming and pass on their farms to younger trained farmers who thereby enlarge their holdings to create more viable units. These farming transferees must agree to farm the enlarged holding for at least five years or for as long as the pension is paid to the retired farmer. Farming in that context means spending at least 50 per cent of time and earning at least 50 per cent of income from farming. If forestry, on-farm tourism and crafts are also undertaken the income from farming above must be at least 25 per cent of the total.
I have no plans to change these conditions of the scheme which are requirements for the EC Council Regulation on which the scheme is based.
