Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Oct 1998

Vol. 494 No. 4

Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.

Phil Hogan

Question:

166 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that participants in the early farm retirement scheme are categorised on the basis of the amount of land in their ownership which they have transferred or leased and that the pension is reduced accordingly on a sliding scale; the plans, if any, he has to re-examine this particular aspect of the scheme with a view to giving the maximum pension to all land owners who sell or lease or transfer their property and participate in this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18377/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2079/92 under which the scheme of early retirement from farming is being implemented specifies certain mandatory conditions which must be included in the scheme. One of these conditions provides that the minimum size of the holding to be transferred to an eligible transferee is five hectares of utilisable agricultural area. The rate of annual pension is set at a basic 4,000 ECUs plus 250 ECUs per hectare up to a maximum of 10,000 ECUs which is payable on a farm of 24 hectares or over. This is to allow for a relationship between the retirement pension and the amount of income which would have been generated from the farm holding. In the circumstances, I have no plans to review this aspect of the current scheme.

Michael Ring

Question:

167 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food to confirm if there is a scheme in place whereby a farmer, aged 55, in his second year in the REP scheme can avail of the early retirement scheme; and, if so, if he will confirm the details of this scheme. [18378/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

A farmer in REPS who joins the early retirement scheme must cease his or her participation in REPS and is not obliged to repay the aid paid provided the agri-environment plan is continued by a successor or if the farmer has completed three years or more in REPS.