Vol. 562 No. 1
219 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person wishes to enter a five year farm lease plan with a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if this person will be allowed to enter the scheme as they had no option but to secure employment, where their P60 indicates an income of ?47,000, to raise capital for this venture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5257/03]
I understand that the person in question wants to lease a farm from an older farmer who intends to join the early retirement scheme and the question relates to his eligibility as a transferee under the scheme. One of the conditions for eligibility as a transferee is that non-farm income must not exceed 100 income units, equivalent to gross income of €25,400, in the tax year prior to the application being received in the Department. The relevant tax year for an application received in 2003 is that ended 31 December 2002. Therefore, if the intention is to make an application this year and the transferee's income was greater than €25,400 in the tax year ended on 31 December last, he is unfortunately not eligible as a transferee under the scheme.
