Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2016
237. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the early retirement scheme, including its criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21902/16]
View answerBPS is payable to applicants who are farming, have an active herd number and have eligible land which is used for an agricultural activity. The eligibility requirements for qualifying for an Early Retirement Pension is that an applicant must have definitively ceased farming, have divested himself/herself of all UAA lands, including lands rented out and have cancelled or made dormant their herd/flock or cereal numbers. Early Retirement pensioners cannot return to farming at any stage unless they repay all monies received by way of pension.
