Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Farmers' Early Retirement Scheme.

Brian Cowen

Question:

901 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will give, in tabular form and by county, the number of applicants, the number of successful applicants, the number of people paid, the amount of money paid out and the number awaiting payment in relation to the farm retirement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16120/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

The Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming was introduced in 1994. To date, over 4,750 applicants have been approved with an average, per annum, pension payment of £9,360. Over 147,000 hectares have been transferred to younger trained farmers and the average farm size has increased to 49.3 hectares from 31.3 hectares, a substantial structural gain. The information requested is as follows.

List, by County of number of applicants, number successful, number paid, amount paid and number awaiting payment.

Country	Number of Applicants	Successful	Number Paid	Amount Paid	Awaiting Payment
				£
Carlow	59	57	55	1,149,001.74	2
Cavan	189	169	166	3,266,624.06	3
Clare	243	229	225	4,174,230.46	4
Cork	885	859	830	14,135,252.54	29
Donegal	81	74	74	1,147,100.02	0
Dublin	45	43	41	666,600.02	2
Galway	201	183	180	2,742,460.63	3
Kerry	364	334	315	4,573,345.28	19
Kildare	91	77	76	1,062,221.80	1
Kilkenny	225	199	196	2,611,498.38	3
Laois	152	135	130	1,662,365.50	5
Leitrim	48	42	40	478,330.20	2
Limerick	341	315	307	3,600,617.70	8
Longford	73	69	68	761,746.92	1
Louth	69	64	63	689,467.57	1
Mayo	117	113	108	1,119,547.08	5
Meath	175	153	150	1,502,341.62	3
Monaghan	96	91	91	850,893.76	0
Offaly	148	140	135	1,164,055.00	5
Roscommon	149	139	138	1,156,940.46	1
Sligo	88	86	78	589,420.48	8
Tipperary	561	494	484	3,013,769.64	10
Waterford	132	124	122	559,215,63	2
Westmeath	138	127	125	448,220.35	2
Wexford	380	357	342	761,028.04	15
Wicklow	85	86	83	58,176.89	3
Total	5,135	4,759	4,622	53,944,471.77	137