Vol. 504 No. 7
169 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when it is proposed to review the early retirement scheme pension at EU level; if he will put forward proposals whereby deductions will not be made from the level of ERS payment recipients where they are in receipt of another State pension or pension for which they have paid privately themselves; and his views on this initiative. [12880/99]
The scheme of early retirement from farming will be reviewed in the context of the implementation of the rural development regulation under Agenda 2000. The issue of deduction of State retirement pensions from the early retirement pension will be examined in that context. There is no scope under the current regulations to make any such changes.
No deductions are made in respect of privately funded pensions.
170 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is a participant in the early retirement scheme had his payment cut; if his case will be reconsidered; and, if not, if he will be compensated in any other way. [12881/99]
The rate of pension paid to participants in the early retirement scheme was designated in ECUs up to the end of December, 1998 and since that date in euros. The amount of pension payable in euros is converted to punts at the rate which was set at 1 January, 1999 and this is 5.055 per cent lower than the rate at which ECUs were converted to punts for the pension scheme. As a result, pensions under the scheme have been reduced by 5.055 per cent from 1 January 1999.
