Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Apr 1997

Vol. 477 No. 5

Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.

Mary Wallace

Question:

285 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will assist the approval of a farm retirement pension for a person (details supplied) in County Meath who has just reached the age of 66th and who has been told that the application for the pension should have been received before his 66th birthday; whether an application can be accepted in these circumstances in view of the fact that this person did not know about this aspect of the regulations. [9578/97]

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

My Department has no record of an application in this case. This scheme provides that in order to become a transferor, the applicant must, on the date he-she ceases farming i.e. the date on which all the transfer documents are signed, be between his-her 55th and 66th birthdays.

However, an applicant who is not the owner of the agricultural holding may be admitted to the scheme if in actual joint management of the holding with the owner and he-she meets the age and other conditions of the scheme.