Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Oct 1999

Vol. 508 No. 3

Written Answers - Farm Retirement Scheme.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

178 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the average delay for the processing of the farm retirement scheme on a county by county basis; the plans, if any, he has to reduce this waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19070/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh):

The average waiting time for the processing of applications under the scheme of early retirement from farming on a county by county basis is as set out in the following table.

The matter of addressing the problems in this area is currently under review in my Department.

Waiting time for processing of applications under the Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming

County	AverageWaitingTime
Carlow	6 weeks
Cavan	3 months
Clare	6 weeks
Cork	6 weeks
Donegal	3 months
Dublin	5 months
Galway	3 months
Kerry	6 weeks
Kildare	3 months
Kilkenny	3 months
Laois	4 months
Leitrim	Nil (no applications on hands)
Limerick	5 months
Longford	5 months
Louth	6 months
Mayo	3 months
Meath	6 months
Monaghan	4 months
Offaly	3 months
Roscommon	3 months
Sligo	1 month
Tipperary	6 months
Waterford	6 weeks
Westmeath	4 months
Wexford	3 months
Wicklow	6 weeks

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

179 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers per county who have availed of the farm retirement scheme to date; the number of applications awaiting processing; the current rate for the maximum payment available to a retiring farmer; if he will compare this maximum rate with that payable since the scheme was introduced; and his views on speculation that the upper age limit for receipt of payment under this scheme is to be extended to 75 years. [19084/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh):

The number of farmers who have availed of the scheme of early retirement from farming to date and the number of applications awaiting processing on a county basis are as set out in the following table.

At present the maximum pension payable to a retired farmer based on 24 hectares or more of land being released under the scheme is 12,075 euros – £9,509.83 – per annum.

Since the scheme was introduced in 1994 the maximum rates of payment were as follows;

10,000 ECU per annum (£9,764.26) up to and including 31 December 1995;

10,000 ECU per annum (10,016.26) from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 1998;

12,075 euro per annum (£9,509.83) from 1 January 1999 to date.

The Council of Ministers have agreed that compensation will be paid over the next three years to participants in the schemes affected by reductions arising from the introduction of the euro.

Full compensation, with 100 per cent funding by the EU, will be payable for the reduction in 1999 pensions to participants who joined the scheme prior to 1998. Approval of the EU Commission is necessary before compensation will be paid. It is hoped that the Commission will give the necessary approval by the end of November, and once such a decision is received payment will issue as soon as possible. Two further tranches of compensation at reduced levels will be paid

Proposals for a revised scheme of early retirement from farming are currently being prepared in my Department in the context of the Agenda 2000 regulations. These regulations include a provision whereby the duration of early retirement support can be extended to the 75th birthday of the transferor.

Statistics on the Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming By County

County	Number of Farmers who have availed of the Scheme	Number of applications awaiting processing
Carlow	138	7
Cavan	289	8
Clare	407	5
Cork	1804	36
Donegal	125	2
Dublin	71	3
Galway	382	24
Kerry	693	24
Kildare	151	3
Kilkenny	396	14
Laois	261	9
Leitrim	67	0
Limerick	649	65
Longford	123	4
Louth	111	6
Mayo	196	17
Meath	291	16
Monaghan	165	5
Offaly	237	7
Roscommon	233	5
Sligo	141	2
Tipperary	970	60
Waterford	273	6
Westmeath	218	8
Wexford	704	22
Wicklow	159	4