Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the implications for the single farm payment for those on the early farm retirement pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23733/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In general, the single payment scheme is applicable to farmers who actively farmed during all or any of the three reference years 2000, 2001 and 2002, who were paid livestock premia and-or arable aid payments in one or more of those years and who, or whose successors, will farm in 2005 single payment scheme.

My Department has been aware, from an early stage in the negotiations leading to the introduction of the single payment scheme, of the possible implications for retired farmers who had leased their holdings during the reference years 2000 to 2002. In so far as it has proved possible in the context of the EU regulations governing the single payment scheme, and following lengthy discussions with the European Commission, provision has been made under the rules of the single payment scheme to address some of the concerns of retired farmers.

Where an individual had retired before the reference period, that person is not in a position to claim entitlements under the single payment scheme. However, a concession agreed with the European Commission will allow family members who take over a holding that was leased to third parties during the reference period to have access to entitlements from the national reserve. This will benefit the family members of retired farmers who decide to take up farming.

My officials are continuing to discuss with EU Commission officials the position of retired farmers in the context of the new single payment scheme.