Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2005
33 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will review the farm retirement scheme provisions in view of the recent income reductions for farmers in that scheme due to the reduction in rental income from agricultural land; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1773/05]
View answerThe rate of pension payable under the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming is the maximum amount provided for by the EU Council regulation under which the scheme was introduced.
My Department's proposals for the current early retirement scheme, which commenced on 27 November 2000 and is one of the measures in the CAP rural development plan for the period 2000-06, included provision for annual increases in pension over the period of the plan. The European Commission rejected this proposal and insisted on legal grounds that a fixed rate be set instead.
The EU regulations governing both schemes make no provision for payment rates to be changed by reference to factors such as movements in land values.
