Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 24 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 6

Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.

Ulick Burke

Ceist:

119 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if it is permissible to split an existing holding in order to facilitate enlargement under the early retirement scheme; and, if so if he will provide a copy of this regulation. [14658/00]

Ulick Burke

Ceist:

120 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his views on whether the splitting of holdings runs contrary to the principle underpinning the early retirement scheme. [14659/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together.

The existing scheme of early retirement from farming addresses two main structural defects in Irish agriculture, namely the age profile of farmers and the size of farm holdings.

In relation to the latter, transfer or holdings can be split between two or more transferees, where each transferee already holds land in his/her own right, thereby increasing the overall acreage already held by each transferee. If the transferee does not previously hold land in his/her own right before receiving land from the transferor, the splitting of holdings is not allowed in such cases. The splitting of holdings which is permissible under the scheme rules, is not contrary to the principle underpinning the early retirement scheme.

The splitting of holdings is not referred to specifically in the EU regulation governing the scheme of early retirement from farming but rules dealing with the matter governing it are set out in detail in the scheme document and scheme guidelines. I will make arrangements to forward copies of these documents to the Deputy.

Proposals for a new early retirement scheme, submitted by my Department to the European Commission as part of the Rural Development Plan 2000-2006, do not include the enlargement requirement. A viability requirement will apply instead.