Vol. 506 No. 5
123 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the new changes which he will implement as part of the new farm retirement scheme; when these changes will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15872/99]
The rural development regulation which was adopted by the Agriculture Council last month as part of the Agenda 2000 Agreement provides for continued support for early retirement from farming. The regulation provides for the acceptance of applications from part-time farmers and for the replacement of the enlargement provision by a requirement to increase the viability of a holding. The regulation also provides for possible changes in the rates and duration of the pension. The terms and conditions which will apply to the future early retirement scheme are being considered at present in the context of an integrated rural development plan which my Department has to prepare to implement the new rural development regulation.
The integrated rural development plan must be submitted to the European Commission within six months of adoption of the regulation and the Commission is required to approve the plan within six months of its submission. The provisions of the regulation cannot be implemented until the Commission has approved the plan and in any event not before 1 January 2000.
