asked the Minister for Social Welfare if farmers who sign over their farms under EEC schemes are being deprived of their old age pensions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Retired Farmers' Pensions.
27.
Farmers who are receiving old age pensions and who sign over their farms under the EEC Farmer's Voluntary Retirement Scheme have their means reassessed under the Social Welfare Acts in the normal way. If their weekly means exceed the statutory limit their pensions are terminated.
Does the Minister accept that because of this fact the EEC schemes in question which were designed to improve the land structures in this country are not working, that this is a major obstacle to getting any benefit from the EEC farmers' retirement scheme?
I would not be prepared to say whether the Deputy's statement is true or not. So far as I am concerned, my obligation is to see to it that pensions are administered in accordance with the statutory provisions. If the Deputy is dissatisfied with the farmers' retirement scheme he had better raise that with the appropriate Minister.
I accept the point.