Vol. 495 No. 7
305 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person aged 47 years can apply under the farm retirement scheme on the grounds of ill health where medical evidence is available in support of his condition. [21508/98]
The position is that 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 is that a transferor must be not less than 55 years old but not yet of normal retirement age at the time of the transfer.
Unfortunately the regulation does not allow any more favourable treatment for farmers who are under the required age limit but who are in ill-health. In the circumstances, the person referred to in the question cannot be accepted into the scheme.
