Vol. 543 No. 4
50 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of farmers from County Kerry who qualified under the early retirement scheme from 1994 to 31 December 1999; the number which have qualified under the new scheme from November 2000 to November 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27263/01]
A total of 772 farmers from County Kerry qualified for pension under the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming. Since the introduction of the new EU early retirement scheme in November 2000, 48 applications have been received from farmers in County Kerry. Of these, 30 have been approved for payment and nine applications are currently being processed. Of the remainder, three have been found to be ineligible. The rest have been returned as defective, but if the deficiencies are rectified there is a possibility that they can be successfully re-submitted.
