Vol. 499 No. 3
187 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the proposed changes to the farm retirement pension scheme will come into operation; the proposed changes in this regard; and if these changes will be in place before April 1999. [2666/99]
I wrote to Commissioner Fischler in February 1998 requesting the replacement of the enlargement requirement with viability criteria and the removal of the restriction in respect of farm income.
Proposals in this regard are included in the draft rural development regulation which is expected to be agreed by the Agriculture Council by the end of March 1999. Changes in the scheme under that regulation will come into effect in the year 2000.
