Vol. 531 No. 5
69 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a person who is joint owner of a farm and has worked a farm on a joint basis with her husband and is now aged 55 can, by transferring her portion of the holding to her son who qualifies in all respects, avail of the early retirement scheme from farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6333/01]
Each party in a joint ownership situation is registered as the full owner of the farm. There would be no question, therefore, of one of the joint owners being able to transfer a portion of the land to a third party. Any such transaction would have to be between the joint owners and that third party.
In the situation described, the transferor, in this case the wife, is 55 years of age. Assuming all of the conditions of the scheme are met, including those relating to the eligibility of the transferee, it would be possible for her to qualify for pension under the scheme following a transfer of the entire farm to an eligible transferee. However, because of the joint ownership of their land, both husband and wife must retire from farming in order for her to qualify for the pension.
70 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason PRSI contributions have not been deducted from the monthly payment from the early retirement scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; if he will take steps to ensure that the said insurance contributions are duly deducted and credited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6334/01]
As the maximum pension payable under the early retirement scheme is below £280 per week, the threshold for payment of PRSI, no PRSI deductions are made from the pension. If the person named wishes to investigate his social insurance position further, he should contact the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs in the matter.
