John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 497: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of persons in County Sligo who received the maximum pension payable under the 1994 to 1999 scheme of early retirement from farming; the maximum pension payable under the scheme; the number that will not receive the backdate of the top up payment under the farm retirement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11292/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The maximum rate of pension under the 1994-1999 Early Retirement Scheme is payable to retired farmers who released 24 hectares or more of land into the Scheme. A total of 67 Scheme participants in County Sligo qualified for the maximum rate of pension.

The maximum rate of pension payable under the Scheme was €12,075 per annum up to 31 October 2006 and was increased to €14,075 with effect from 1 November 2006. The increases in Early Retirement pensions, which will be funded entirely from the Exchequer, formed part of the undertakings in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016. They will benefit some 5,000 retired farmers and add some €33 million to the cost of the Schemes over the time they have left to run.

In County Sligo a total of 18 retired farmers who are still participating in the Scheme benefited from the increases.