Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.
38 Mr. D. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when the new early retirement scheme will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17683/00]
Comment on this
39 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the current position in relation to the proposed new farm retirement pension; if final details have been agreed with the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17761/00]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together.
Ireland's CAP rural development plan for the period 2000-06 was submitted to the European Commission at the end of December last. This plan covers early retirement along with REPS, compensatory allowances and forestry.
Comment on this
40 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a person, who is currently in receipt of the EU farm retirement pension scheme, can, on the expiry of a five year lease with a neighbour, go back farming on her own account; and if she can sell the land to whoever she likes should she decide to dispose of it. [17714/00]
Comment on this
When a person applies for a pension under the scheme of early retirement from farming, he or she undertakes to cease all commercial farming activity definitively. The transferee or transferees undertake to farm the transferred and enlarged holding as a main occupation for the full period during which the pension is payable. In return the Department undertakes to pay the pension for a period of ten years or until the transferor's 70th birthday, whichever is the sooner.
If a participant returns to commercial farming at any time, he or she must refund all payments received under the scheme from the outset. If he or she wishes to dispose of the holding to a person other than the approved transferee, it may be disposed of only with my Department's prior consent and only to a replacement transferee who also meets the requirements of the scheme. If the transferred holding is not farmed in accordance with the requirements of the scheme for the full period during which the pension is payable to the transferor, then all payments made under the scheme from the outset must be refunded to my Department.
Once a transferor has completed his or her term in the scheme, he or she is free to dispose of the holding but may not return to commercial farming at any time.