Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2005
396 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to the early retirement scheme of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3656/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person in question joined the scheme of early retirement from farming in March 1995 and received payment until his 70th birthday on 20 June 2003, when his participation in the scheme ended. A pension cannot be paid beyond a participant's 70th birthday.
The mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy has implications for farmers involved in the early retirement scheme. The new single payment scheme introduced in Ireland from 1 January 2005 applies to farmers who actively farmed during the reference years of 2000, 2001 and 2002, who were paid livestock premia or arable aid in one or more of the reference years and who will continue to farm in 2005. Farmers such as the person named, who joined the 1994 early retirement scheme, did not farm during the reference period and cannot establish entitlements under the single payment scheme. If they transferred their holdings by lease, the transferees were actively farming during the reference years and will have entitlements established for them. Entitlements relate to the farmer who was actively farming during the reference period and not to the land.
During negotiations with the European Commission on the single payment scheme, Ireland secured agreement to an arrangement that will benefit family members or others who take over holdings that were farmed by third parties who leased them during the reference period. Farmers who take over such holdings, by transfer free of charge or by a lease of five or more years at a nominal amount, may apply to the national reserve for payment entitlements under the single payment scheme.
