asked the Minister for Lands the reason for the delay in making payments under the farm retirement scheme; and if he will expedite the process.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.
7.
(Cavan): I do not accept that there is any undue delay on the part of the Land Commission in making payments under the farmers' retirement scheme. Where lands are sold to the Land Commission under the scheme the purchase money together with the premium is paid over on the closing of the sale. In the case of lands being sold or leased direct to farmers whose development plans provide for additional land the premium is paid on receipt of satisfactory evidence that the transaction has been completed in accordance with the requirements of the scheme. As to the annuity the scheme provides that this is payable monthly in arrear commencing on the first day of the second month following completion of the sale or lease proceedings.
If the Deputy has any particular case in mind where he considers that there has been undue delay by the Land Commission in processing an application—as distinct from making a payment—under the scheme I shall have it investigated if he supplies me with details.
Is the Minister satisfied with the progress in a county the size of Donegal? There is a demand for the scheme and the scheme has been in operation now for, I think, two years.
(Cavan): Since 1st May, 1974.
Almost two years. In only eight cases has the scheme been finalised. This is surely not progress satisfactory to the Minister or to anybody else.
Might I ask for brief supplementary questions, please?
What is the reason for this?
(Cavan): The Deputy asked about the delay in making payments. As distinct from processing, eight cases have been completed in Donegal. They are as follows: in the first possession was handed over on 11th March, 1975, and the first payment of pension was made on 30th April, 1975; in the second case possession was handed over on 11th April, 1975, and the first payment was made on 10th June, 1975; in the third case possession was handed over on 18th April, 1975, and the first payment was made on 1st July, 1975; in the next case possession was handed over on 30th May, 1975, and the first payment was made on 1st July, 1975; in the next case possession was handed over on 30th June, 1975, and the first payment was made on 7th August, 1975; in the next case possession was handed over on 7th July, 1975, and the first payment was made on 29th August, 1975; in the seventh case possession was handed over on 5th November, 1975, and the first payment was made on 31st December, 1975; in the eighth case, possession was handed over on 21st November, 1975, and the first payment was made on 31st December, 1975. I think the Deputy will agree there was no undue delay in any of those cases.
That is not the point; perhaps the question was badly phrased. Payment is one process in the whole operation. If the Department are responsible for delay at any stage in the process they are guilty of holding up the scheme.
Is the Minister in a position to tell us with regard to the eight cases the delay from the time the figure was agreed until it was finally paid? We are aware that the people with whom agreement was reached do not give over possession until they are about to be paid.
(Cavan): I can tell the Deputy the date of application in the eight cases and I will elaborate. I shall give the eight dates one after the other. They are: 23rd May, 1974; 15th July, 1974; 27th May, 1974; 15th May, 1974; 13th May, 1974; 8th August, 1974; 23rd September, 1974; 14th August, 1974. I agree with the Deputy that there are three stages in the completion of each case. There is the application and there is the necessary investigation to establish whether the applicant is eligible to participate in this scheme. When this is established, there are negotiations as to price and they can be prolonged. When the price is fixed the lawyers come in to it and they are not always the fastest people in the world. Apart from that, in many cases the title may not have been looked at for a very long time; it may have changed hands a few times without it being investigated. When the title is cleared the sale is completed, the purchase money is paid and the annuity is paid. If any Deputy puts down a specific question about a specific case I am prepared to go into it with him and, if there is delay, I will tell him where the delay lies and who is responsible.
I have received representations from many people and I have sent some of them to the Minister. In the beginning he and his Department put in an effort from the point of view of publicity to get the scheme off the ground. In County Donegal only eight farmers have retired. If the original effort was not be put into it. I have complaints that the Department are dragging their feet——
I should like to dissuade Deputies from seeking to debate this matter. Progress is particularly slow on questions today. I would ask the House to co-operate with the Chair in making better progress.
(Cavan): Not alone was an effort put into this matter from the beginning but I would inform Deputies that I have a weekly report on the scheme and I am urging the Land Commission and all concerned to expedite it in every way. I am satisfied there is no undue delay on the part of the Land Commission. Some 110 cases have been completed, involving 4,463 acres of land and £1,000,263. A price has been agreed on in 223 cases, involving almost 10,000 acres. I am satisfied that wherever the delay is it is not in the Land Commission. If the Deputy puts down a question relating to a specific case or cases we can see where is the delay.
I am calling Question No. 8.
Will the Minister state——
The Chair has given a lot of latitude on this question but it is being imposed upon.
This is the first supplementary question I asked today. Does the Minister not agree that this scheme will hardly work at all until the retiring farmer is allowed to nominate an eligible successor?
(Cavan): He has the option of selling the land to an eligible successor, namely, a person with a development plan and with a certificate that he needs additional land.
What about nominating his successor?
(Cavan): He can do that. That has been inherent in the scheme since the beginning.
I have called Question No. 8.