Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Feb 1999

Vol. 499 No. 3

Written Answers - Cereal Production.

Seamus Kirk

Ceist:

210 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will reconsider the present arrangement in a situation where land has been acquired for industrial purposes and, unless a compulsory purchase order is involved, it is not possible to transfer eligibility status for cereals to non-eligible land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2751/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh):

The circumstances in which a farmer may be authorised to transfer eligibility are laid down in EU regulations and it is not open to me to waive these rules. Such transfers can only be made within a holding. Eligibility cannot be transferred from land which is no longer part of a holding except in cases of public intervention such as compulsory purchase for road construction etc.