Liam Aylward
Ceist:252 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if there is any provision within the EU farm retirement scheme which would permit recipients to sell part of their land. [9132/00]
Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.
Under the terms and conditions of the scheme of early retirement from farming, a farming transferee must work the expanded holding for a period of five years or for as long as the early retirement pension is granted to the transferor, whichever is the greater. The disposal of a site may be permitted subject to the prior written approval of the Department. If a larger area of land is disposed of the participant is obliged to replace it. Disposals are generally subject to the clawback of the pension paid and a reduction in the future pension payable. These are guidelines only and each case would have to be judged on its own merits.