Vol. 528 No. 3
85 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will clarify the situation in relation to the proposed penalty on a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in relation to his premium payments under the early retirement scheme; and if his attention has been drawn to the person's desire to rectify the situation through appropriate transfers; and the outcome of his appeal for leniency. [30228/00]
The person named is participating as a farming transferee under the scheme of early retirement from farming. The provisions of that scheme require a farming transferee to enlarge the holding which he/she takes over from the retiring farmer and to practise farming as a main occupation on 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.
In the case of the person named, it has come to my Department's attention that he transferred his enlargement land to his spouse before the expiry of the early retirement pension. He was recently in touch with my Department seeking permission to substitute another plot of land for the aforementioned enlargement land. His request is currently under consideration and, until the examination of the case is completed, it is not possible to state whether penalties will be applied.
