Press Room
Taoiseach could retire today on EUR13,515 (if he was a farmer!)
However, Mr. Markey pointed out that even if Mr. Ahern had a substantial farm holding he would only eligible for the maximum payment of EUR13,515 under the scheme. Mr. Markey says that this figure is far too low to encourage people to retire early and hand their farm over to the next generation.
'The Early Farm Retirement Scheme has been a very effective measure in getting more young people established in farming but the rate of payment is no longer attractive and has not kept pace with inflation since it was introduced in 1992,' he said.
Mr. Markey said that while he welcomed the fact that the Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan had made some positive adjustments to the scheme rules last week, the key issue was the rate of payment under the scheme.
'This must be increased to the maximum amount allowable under EU rules which is 18,000,' he said.
Mr. Markey said that an enhanced Early Retirement Scheme was one of Macra's key demands in the partnership talks and said he hoped that the Taoiseach would approve an increase in funding for the scheme now that he could empathise with those who were eligible for it!
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