Mary Wallace
Question:221 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount from the farm retirement scheme per month paid to each farmer; if the scheme is index-linked; and if not, the reason therefor. [1171/03]
Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.
The maximum pension payable under the current early retirement scheme is €13,515 per annum for a period of up to ten years. This is made up of a basic payment of €5,403 plus €338 per hectare up to a maximum of 24 hectares. In its proposals for this scheme, which commenced in November 2000, my Department had made provision for annual increases in the rate of pension. However the European Commission rejected this proposal and insisted that a fixed rate be set for the full period of the CAP rural development plan 2000-06.
The rate of pension payable under the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming is the maximum provided for in the EU Council Regulation under which the scheme was introduced. The regulation does not provide for indexation of payments. The maximum pension rate for this scheme is €12,075 per annum made up of a basic payment of €4,830 plus €301.90 per hectare up to a maximum of 24 hectares.