Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food the reason an applicant (details supplied) under the early retirement scheme has not had their application approved from the date of their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17127/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Payment of the Early Retirement pension can only be made from the date a valid application is received. The person named initially submitted an application in 2008 when the Scheme was closed to new applicants. Following the temporary reopening of the Scheme an application from the person named was accepted on 24 September 2009. My Department was not in a position to approve this application as the scheme conditions were not met. The application was submitted under the provision of the Early Retirement Scheme that envisaged the transferee being set up under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. As that scheme is closed to new applicants, the transferee in this case could not satisfy that requirement.

My Department wrote to the person named on 8th February 2010, offering him the option of resubmitting the application under an alternative provision of the Scheme which involved the holding being enlarged by the transferee. The person named resubmitted a valid application on 6th April 2010 and it is from this date that he is entitled to receive payment.