Michael Finucane
Question:154 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a farm retirement pension and arrears will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [18689/01]
Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.
The application by the person named under the scheme of early retirement from farming was valid from 19 January 1995. She has received her full pension entitlement from that date. However, she is due a tax refund because of the changeover to the tax credit system in April 2001, and this will be included in her June 2001 payment.
Dick Spring
Question:155 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has not received a final payment of the early retirement scheme. [18742/01]
My Department has had to withhold payments from the person named because he has not given information about any entitlement he may have to the non-contributory old age pension, in spite of a number of requests. He reached the age of 66 on 28 May 1997 and 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 person named came to the end of his participation in the early retirement scheme on 28 May 2001. Because the position in relation to State pension entitlement was not established, my Department had no option but to stop his payments in January this year. We are now seeking the information directly from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. When the correct position has been established, my Department will release to the person named any residual payments to which he is entitled.