Vol. 529 No. 3
97 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason there is no provision in the previous or current farm retirement pension schemes for index linking to take account of annual inflation; and if he will pursue this matter with the European Commission with a view to amending the previous and current schemes. [2793/01]
The rate of pension payable under the 1994 early retirement scheme is the maximum provided by Council Regulation (EEC) 2079/92 which governs the scheme.
My Department's proposals for the new early retirement scheme that commenced on 27 November 2000 and which forms part of the CAP rural development plan for the period 2000-2006, included provision for annual increases in pension over the period of the plan. The European Commission indicated that this proposal was unacceptable and that a fixed rate of pension had to be set. My Department then proposed a rate which was the average of the scale initially put forward. This was acceptable to the Commission and is the rate provided for in the new scheme.
