Lorwy welcomes additional funding for early retirement scheme

Independent Deputy Michael Lowry has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, that additional funding has been provided to solve ‘limbo cases’ in the Early Retirement Scheme for farmers.

This extra funding is aimed at applications that were completed or close to completion at the time entry to the scheme was suspended on 14th October 2008.

Lowry said;

Since the closure of the Early Farm Retirement scheme and the Young Farmers Installation Aid scheme in the 2008 Budget I have fought tooth and nail for a compromise to be found for applicants who had there applications substantially complete at that point, to be included. I did this because I felt it was genuinely unfair on farming families who had invested great time and expense in preparing this applications, but had the rug pulled from under them on budget day.

I am delighted that the Minister has listened to my arguments put to him directly in the case of Early Farm Retirement Applications, and I will continue to fight the case for the Young Farmer Installation Aid Scheme.

We are all aware that the public finances are under extreme pressure at the moment, but I am aware of many farming families who had spent thousands in fees preparing for the schemes. This compromise gives an opportunity to these families who had their applications for the scheme substantially complete, to get into the scheme.

In setting out his limitations for entry to the scheme, the Minister said that, “in order to give those who might be eligible for admission to the scheme an opportunity to apply, farmers may submit their applications, accompanied by a lease/deed of transfer stamped by the Revenue Commissioners, to the Early Retirement Section in Johnstown Castle on or before 30th October 2009.”

Minister Smith emphasised that, because of the limited number of applications that can be accepted, there is no guarantee that all completed applications received by 30th October 2009 will be accepted.

In processing new applications, the Department will give priority to those applications which have leases/deeds of transfer stamped by the Revenue Commissioners prior to 14th October 2008 and, thereafter, priority will be determined by reference to the date on which the lease/deed of transfer was stamped.

Minister Smith said that any decision about further reopening the scheme would be taken only in the context of the annual Budget/Estimates process.

ENDS

Further Information:

Conor Mulvihill 087-6989501