Phil Hogan
Question:216 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a pension for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny was reduced, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13571/01]
Written Answers - Farm Retirement Scheme.
The early retirement pension that was being paid to the person named had to be reduced when he became entitled to a national old age contributory pension. It is a requirement of EU Council Regulation No. 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 pension payable under the scheme.
The same requirement is laid down in EU Council Regulation No. 1257-1999 under which the new early retirement scheme was introduced in November 2000.