Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 605: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers who qualified under the hardship clause resulting from the closure of the early retirement scheme in October, 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30125/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department received 175 applications following the temporary reopening of the Early Retirement Scheme from 23 September to 30 October 2009. The applications are being processed and, to date, 71 have been approved for payment. Twelve of the applications could not be accepted for processing and a further four applications have been rejected following processing as they did not meet the conditions of the Scheme.

Of the total number of applications received, 39 were returned to the applicants as they were submitted under the provision of the Early Retirement Scheme that envisaged the transferees being set up under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. As that scheme is closed to new applicants, the transferees in these cases could not satisfy that requirement. The applicants were offered the option of resubmitting their applications under an alternative provision of the Scheme which involved the holding being enlarged by the transferee. Thirty-three of these applications have been resubmitted on this basis and are currently being processed.