asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries when socio-economic advisers will be appointed to help farmers to cope with the implications of the farm modernisation scheme and the farm retirement scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Socio-Economic Information.
2.
Mr. Kitt
The county agricultural advisory services are competent to provide socio-economic information of a general nature and to explain the farm modernisation scheme and the farm retirement scheme to any farmer seeking advice.
A programme to give agricultural advisers further training in socio-economic advisory work is under way and at least one adviser in each county is already receiving training.
Mr. Kitt
Is the Minister aware that there are a number of farmers who have lost their old age pensions and whose wives have also lost their pensions and other associated benefits because they availed of this scheme?
I am aware of one well-publicised case. It is a fact that they did not look for advice on this subject until the case was well advanced but they got advice. They were told by the Land Commission— this is not really my responsibility at that stage—that if they had this sort of problem, to go and speak to the Department of Social Welfare. They did and they knew their situation before they finalised the deal. It is not fair to say that they did not know in advance where they stood. The Land Commission and the Department of Lands will all the time have to say: "If there is a question of having a pension or social welfare benefits that you are afraid you will lose go and discuss the matter with the relevant Department". That is the advice they get.
Would the Minister not agree that this question of losing social welfare benefits is a handicap to the operation of the scheme?
I do not think it is. In the matter of the particular case that was drawn to my attention if the money received for the holding was invested and it and the pension were taken into consideration they would have an income of over £2,000 per annum I do not think those type of people qualify for a pension. Why should they?
I know they do not qualify but there are other things which go with the old age pension which they also do not qualify for. This is a disincentive to retirement.
There is nobody forcing any of them to retire.
I know that.
Mr. Kitt
Is there any likelihood that the pension and the social welfare benefits would be raised under this retirement scheme? I believe some families are paying income tax for the first time in their lives. Would it be possible to exempt them from tax in order to make more land available?
The Deputy is raising matters appertaining to other Departments.
These are matters which are not really relevant.