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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 2003

Vol. 562 No. 1

Written Answers - Farm Retirement Scheme.

Michael Ring

Question:

232 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the farm retirement pension will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [5302/03]

The EU regulation governing the early retirement scheme requires that the early retirement pension be paid as a supplement to any national retirement pension that the participant, or his or her spouse or partner in a joint management arrangement, receives. The Department has an obligation, therefore, to ensure that a participant does not receive full payment of early retire ment pension if he or she is also entitled to a national retirement pension.

On 23 May 2002, over three months in advance of her 66th birthday, my Department informed the person named that she must apply for both the old age contributory and non-contributory pensions and provide documentary evidence of the outcome of her applications. However, as she had not provided this information by the time she reached the age of 66 on 5 September 2002, my Department was obliged to suspend the payment of her early retirement pension. On 1 October 2002, my Department ascertained from the Department of Social and Family Affairs that the person named had not yet applied for an old age non-contributory pension from that Department. However, my Department has now received, through the Deputy, documentation from the Department of Social and Family Affairs confirming the award of a non-contributory old age pension to the person named from 29 November 2002. Arrangements are being made to restore payment of the early retirement pension, net of the old age pension, to the person named and to pay all arrears due.

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