Vol. 517 No. 3
63 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of farmers who are participating in the farm retirement scheme who have leased their land; the numbers who have passed on the farm to a younger family member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9686/00]
Of the 8,854 participants currently active in the scheme of early retirement from farming, 6,616 or 74.72% leased their lands. Definitive transfers took place in 1,374 cases or 15.52% and 864 – 9.76% – transferred part of their lands definitively and leased the rest. Information on transfers is not kept in a form which would readily allow the identification of all transfers to younger family members.
