Paul McGrath
Question:141 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if there has been progress with an application for a farm retirement scheme from a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [17674/01]
Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.
The application by the person named under the scheme of early retirement from farming was approved on 24 January 2001 and her pension will be paid from 30 December 1999. She reached the age of 66 on 23 March 2000, however, and before payment of her early retirement pension can start my Department has to establish whether she is entitled to a national retirement pension. If she is, then under the EU regulation governing the early retirement scheme her national pension must be offset against her pension under the scheme.
The person named has been asked to provide evidence from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs of her eligibility, or otherwise, to either the contributory or non-contributory old age pension. She was asked for this evidence on 2 February and when it is received my Department will make arrangements without delay for payment of the appropriate rate of early retirement pension. She will receive full back payment to 30 December 1999.