Vol. 530 No. 6
164 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will ensure that an application for an early retirement scheme pension by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is processed immediately and payment is made to this person without penalty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4601/01]
The person named has had his pension restored and my Department has notified him of this. He will receive payment in March.
His pension had been suspended in August 2000 at which time he was made aware that legal documentation, relating to a replacement transferee, was incomplete because evidence of compliance with the enlargement rule had not been provided. The required documentation was received at the end of November 2000 and payment has been restored from that point on. My Department is obliged to withhold the pension for the intervening period as the terms of the scheme were not being complied with. The person named has been given an opportunity to appeal the decision.
