Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 440: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of applications received by him under the early retirement scheme before the date of suspension; the number received following the date of suspension; the number of applications approved; the level of payment to date in 2009 under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41812/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The total number of Early Retirement Scheme applications received by my Department before the suspension of the scheme on 14 October 2008 was 467. When the Early Retirement Scheme was suspended, it became apparent that a certain number of farmers had their applications completed or close to completion at the time when entry to the scheme was suspended. Consequently, I took the decision to reopen the scheme on 23 September 2009 with limited additional funding with a view to accepting as many as possible of the applications that fell into this category. My Department received a further 175 applications up to the closing date of 30 October 2009. These applications are being examined. Expenditure to date in 2009 under the Early Retirement Scheme is €5.955 million.