Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 2

Written Answers. - Early Retirement Scheme.

Ivan Yates

Question:

173 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if continuing payments under the early retirement scheme will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; the situation in relation to payments under the scheme whereby the applicant dies prior to receiving his full period of entitlement under the scheme; and if in these cases the spouse of the deceased can continue to receive payments up until the deceased applicant would have reached 70 years of age or full entitlement. [9538/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The position under this scheme is that where a pensioner dies, payment of the balance of the pension due, may be transferred to the spouse and/or dependent relatives subject to the resulting total annual income not exceeding the maximum of the pension and the average industrial wage as determined by the Central Statistics Office.

As the spouse of this participant qualifies as a dependent relative, payment of the pension will continue to the spouse up to the date of the deceased applicant's 70th birthday.