Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farm retirement pension applications on hand at present; the number approved in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20695/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The number of applications under the Early Retirement Scheme currently being processed by my Department is 68. These were all received before 14 October 2008. A total of 280 applications have been approved in the past 12 months. My Department received approximately 60 applications for the Early Retirement Scheme after 14 October 2008. These applications could not be accepted for processing as they were received after the Scheme had been suspended for new applications due to budgetary constraints. I indicated at the time of the announcement on 14 October 2008 that I would monitor all schemes and services throughout 2009 and would review the position thoroughly in the context of the preparations of the 2010 Estimates for my Department.