Vol. 528 No. 1
148 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason pensions under the farm retirement scheme are not index linked to inflation annually; and if he has made any representations to have them so linked. [29582/00]
The rate of pension payable under the 1994 early retirement scheme is the maximum provided for in the EU Council regulation under which that scheme was introduced. A change in the rate would require the adoption of a new council regulation.
In its proposals for the scheme that commenced on 27 November 2000 which forms part of the rural development plan for the period 2000-06, my Department had included provision for annual increases in pension over the period of the plan. The Commission indicated that this was not acceptable and that a fixed rate must be set. My Department then proposed a rate which was the average of the scale initially put forward. That was accepted by the Commission and is the rate provided for in the new scheme.
