Vol. 558 No. 1
213 Mr. J. Breen asked the Minister for Finance if the relief that was available under section 598 of the Tax Consolidation Acts to farmers participating in the 1992 early retirement scheme will be available to farmers participating in the 2000 retirement scheme. [23696/02]
Section 598 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, provides for retirement relief for farmers from capital gains tax in respect of gains arising on the disposal of the farm, subject to certain conditions being met. This section also allows participants in the 1992 scheme of early retirement from farming, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture and Food to avail of this relief. Extending this relief to participants in the early retirement, ERS2, 2000 scheme would require an amendment to the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it has been the practice for many years for the Minister for Finance not to comment on possible changes in taxation in the weeks prior to the budget.
