Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 2

Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.

Michael P. Kitt

Question:

163 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of applicants for early farm retirement pensions in County Galway who have been told that they have to refund some or all of the payment; the reasons for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18455/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

At present, overpayments are being recovered from the early retirement pensions of 26 persons in County Galway. In all of these cases the overpayments arose from the offsetting of the old age pensions that they or their spouses receive from the Department of Social Community and Family Affairs against their pensions under the early retirement scheme.

It is a condition of the scheme that participants must apply, on reaching their 66th birthday, to the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs for either the contributory and non-contributory old-age pension. This condition also applies to participants partners in a joint management application. If a pension is awarded it must be offset against the farm retirement pension. Participants in the scheme are made aware of this condition when they join, and they are required to notify my Department if they or their partners in joint management are awarded an old-age pension.

However, I should say that every effort is made to minimise any hardship to the participants where an overpayment is being recovered.