Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers in receipt of farm retirement pension; the number of applications on hand; the length of time it currently takes to process an application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12493/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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At the end of February 2006 there were 3,878 active participants in the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming and 2,592 active participants in the 2000 early retirement scheme. My Department is currently processing 73 new applications for the 2000 scheme.

The charter of rights for farmers 2005-2007 requires my Department to process early retirement scheme applications within nine weeks of receipt of a valid application or 11 weeks if a file is selected for a pre-payment inspection. The charter also requires that payment of the pension be made within six weeks of the application being approved for payment. Where deficiencies are found in the application the time limit for processing does not apply.