Vol. 524 No. 5
221 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will provide a copy of the regulation or directive which allows for the splitting of a holding to qualify a transferee's eligibility under the farm retirement scheme. [22935/00]
The splitting of holdings is not specifically referred to in the EU regulation governing the scheme of early retirement from farming. Rules dealing with the matter are set out in detail in the scheme document and scheme guidelines. I will make arrangements to forward copies of these documents in the Deputy.
Under the new early retirement scheme, which is in the final stages of approval by the European Commission, there is no requirement that a farming transferee enlarge the holding released by a transferor. Instead, a viability requirement will apply.
