Vol. 536 No. 3
147 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a vocational training opportunities scheme for adult education is considered as income under the terms of the farm retirement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14201/01]
For the purposes of determining eligibility under the early retirement 2000 scheme – ERS2 – income from the vocational training opportunities scheme is regarded as non-farm income. Such income may be used by a transferee under the scheme to meet the viability threshold of 50 income units – £10,000.
148 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason the qualified adult allowance and child dependant allowance under the unemployment benefit scheme are considered as income under the terms of the farm retirement scheme; his views on whether this decision is of benefit to single applicants and discriminates against families; the plans he has to review this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14202/01]
Under the early retirement 2000 scheme – ERS2 – certain income criteria apply for both the transferor and the transferee. The transferor must derive at least 25% of his or her income from farming and the total income from farming and non-farming sources must not exceed 200 income units, except in the case of a definitive transfer to a family member where there is no upper limit. The transferee must prove his or her viability by having an income of at least 50 income units of which 20 income units are derived from farming. An upper non-farm income limit of 100 income units applies to the transferee. In cash terms, an income unit is £200.
