AGRICULTURE Objectives - Department of Taoiseach

7.3 Full stamp duty relief on land transfers to young trained farmers will becontinued for a further three years until 31 December 2005.7.4 The existing 25% scheme of stock relief for farmers will be continued for afurther two years until 31 December 2004.7.5 The special rate of stock relief of 100% for young trained farmers will becontinued for a further two years, subject to a commencement order by theMinister for Finance.7.6 Under EU VAT law, the VAT rate under the flat rate scheme for unregisteredfarmers is set on the basis of macro-economic data for the previous threeyears. The Government will arrange for the relevant Departments and Officesto meet with farming representatives to elaborate on the data and methodologyused in this calculation with a view to full transparency in its operation.7.7 The Government shall introduce a Land Bill on the operation of LandPurchase Annuities and the management of former Land Commission landsowned by the Minister for Agriculture and Food. The initiative is intended toreduce significantly the burden of Land Purchase Annuities for a substantialnumber of farmers.7.8 The Government shall examine, in conjunction with the Commission, thepossibility of extending the Disadvantaged Areas Classification to the wholeBMW Region. In this context, the question of designating the remaining partsof Co. Monaghan as severely handicapped will also be examined.8. CUSTOMER SERVICE8.1 It is recognised by all parties that great progress has been made in recent yearsin the delivery of services, schemes and payments to farmers. The objectiveshall be to build on the progress already made. Effective consultationarrangements with all customers will be maintained. In view of theimportance of direct payments to farmers’ incomes, such consultation is of9