Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 1

Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.

Paul Bradford

Ceist:

205 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if the terms of the farm retirement scheme can be amended in order that the minimum farm size required for the maximum pension could be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11800/02]

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

The maximum amount of pension payable under the current early retirement scheme is €13,515. This comprises a basic payment of €5,403 that all participants receive regardless of the size of their holding, and €338 per hectare up to a maximum of 24 hectares (59.3 acres).

One of the principal stated objectives of the early retirement scheme is the improvement of the economic viability of agricultural holdings. The rate of pension payable is determined by the extent to which the retiring farmer contributes to this objective through the release of his or her land. Given that the average farm size (on the most recent data available) is 29.3 hectares, the area of 24 hectares required to maximise the pen sion enables many farmers with small to medium-sized holdings to do so. The significant basic payment also ensures that the scheme remains attractive to those farmers with much smaller holdings who are unable to qualify for the maximum payment. In all the circumstances the threshold is not considered unreasonable and there are no plans to change it.