Vol. 518 No. 5
116 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will ensure that the new farm retirement scheme becomes operational at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12291/00]
Proposals for a new scheme of early retirement from farming were submitted to the European Commission in December 1999 as part of my Department's draft rural development plan for the period 2000-06. The Commission has six months from the date of submission to consider the plan.
My Department is at present in discussion with the Commission on the contents of the draft plan and is making every effort to expedite these discussions. While it is not possible at this stage to say when the Commission's approval will be received, my objective is to have the new scheme of early retirement in place at the earliest date.
