Vol. 524 No. 2
204 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when application forms will be available under the new farm retirement scheme; the amount of maximum pension; the number of years for which it will be payable; and the date from which payment is to be made. [22052/00]
The new scheme of early retirement from farming, which is to apply for the period from 2000 to 2006, was recently approved by the European Commission as part of my Department's rural development plan. In accordance with the commitment entered into in the protocol on direct payments to farmers arising out of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, my Department has been consulting with the farming organisations about the detailed provisions of the new early retirement scheme for farmers. It is hoped to launch the new scheme in the coming weeks. Application forms for the new scheme will be available once the scheme is launched.
The maximum rate of pension, 13,515 euro, IR£10,644, will be paid to applicants who release 24 hectares or more of land into the scheme. Payment of the pension will be for a period of not more than ten years from the date of receipt in the Department of a valid application. For applicants who enter the scheme before 31 December 2000, the pension will be payable for ten years or until the person's 70th birthday, whichever is the sooner. Thereafter, the age at which payment will cease is as per the following table, or on the expiry of ten years, whichever is the sooner.
|
Entering Scheme in year ending on |
Age at which pension ceases to be payable |
|
31 December 2001 |
69 |
|
31 December 2002 |
68 |
|
31 December 2003 |
67 |
|
31 December 2004 |
66 |
