Vol. 511 No. 6
198 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the situation regarding eligibility for the farm retirement scheme for farmers intending to retire from farming from January 2000 currently making arrangements to lease their land and quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24935/99]
The present scheme of early retirement from farming which was approved under EU Council regulation 2079/92 will end on 31 December 1999. Valid applications which are submitted before 31 December can be dealt with under the current scheme.
Farmers who retire after the existing scheme ends will be able to apply under a new scheme, which my Department is preparing at present as part of a new rural development plan. The plan will be submitted to the European Commission in December and I will be seeking the commission's earliest approval for it. Pending the commission's approval, I am not in a position to state categorically the specific terms of the new scheme.
