Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2010
86 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of retired farmers who availed of the early retirement scheme since the scheme was reopened for hardship cases in September 2009; the number of same that have been awarded pensions to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21993/10]
View answerMy Department received 175 applications following the temporary reopening of the Early Retirement Scheme from 23 September to 30 October 2009. To date, 26 of the applications have been approved for payment and another 129 applications are currently being processed. Twelve of the applications could not be accepted as they did not satisfy the Scheme conditions. A further two applications have been rejected following processing as they did not meet certain terms and conditions.
The other 39 applications were returned to the applicants as they were submitted under the provision of the Scheme that envisaged the transferee being approved for aid under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. As that scheme is closed to new applicants, the transferees in these cases could not satisfy that requirement. The applicants were offered the option of resubmitting their applications under an alternative provision of the Early retirement Scheme which involved the holding being enlarged by the transferee. Thirty-three of these applications have so far been resubmitted to meet this requirement and these applications will also now be examined in the Department.
