Vol. 535 No. 4
151 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if there is any way an early retirement scheme application from a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can receive full payment, in conjunction with his entitlement to a full contributory old age pension, for the last year of his contract; and if there are any plans to change the supplement payment ruling. [12961/01]
It is a requirement of EU Council Regulation 2079/92, under which the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming was introduced, that any national retirement pension to which a scheme participant becomes entitled must be offset against the early retirement pension payable. The same requirement forms part of the new scheme which was introduced in November 2000.
As the scheme is approved and co-financed by the European Union, my Department has no discretion in the matter and must continue to apply this requirement to comply with its obligations with regard to EU funds.
Question No. 152 withdrawn.
