Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reverse the closure of the early retirement scheme and the installation aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47906/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Young Farmers' Installation Scheme was closed to new applicants on 14 October 2008 and I have no immediate plans to reopen entry to the Scheme at this time. I have, however, made provision of €9.75 million in 2009 to meet the existing commitments under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and the preceding equivalent schemes.

When the Early Retirement Scheme was suspended it became apparent that there were a certain number of farmers who had their preparations to apply for the Scheme completed or close to completion at that point. Consequently, I took the decision to re-open the Scheme temporarily 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 currently being examined.