Farm early retirement pension is inadequate
Eamon Donovan, the leader of the group, has carried out trojan work on behalf of retired farmers over the past 18 months regarding the injustices visited on them in the CAP mid-term review.
The average pension under the ERS up to the period 31/12/2003 was €11,673 (50% funded by the EU).
When taxes are paid and national retirement pensions are deducted from the early retirement pension, by any stretch of the imagination these payments are not sufficient to maintain a reasonable standard of living.
The inadequacy of the current pension, coupled with its non-indexation, is a major weakness in the ERS.
The pension is a fixed monthly amount and is eroded by inflation and rising prices. It should be increased immediately to €1,600, with a 3% increase each year.
Recently, the minister for agriculture announced that retired farmers might work for a contractor but not work on the farm from which he/she retired, or directly for another farmer.
Under the ERS retired farmers should be allowed to carry out manual tasks on farms and aid and advise the young farmer, but not allowed to become involved in management or financial matters.
These able men and women, with skills and life-long experience, should not be barred from assisting in a limited way, particularly when there are major labour problems on farms.
On 31/12/03, there were 2,070 farmers in the ERS, which is only 13% of the intended target.
The total number of hectares involved is 39,804, which is only 15% of the intended land target.
The CAP rural development plan provides for co-funded expenditure of €674.4 million on the ERS.
To date a total of only €28.7m has been paid to farmers under ERS II.
This large amount of unused money should be used to address the many anomalies in the scheme.
John Byrne
35 Wolfe Tone Street
Sligo
