Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005
652 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her Department will agree that a person (details supplied) in County Clare pay reduced instalments on a refund for an early retirement farm scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1354/05]
View answerIt is a requirement of EU Council Regulation 1257/1999, under which the early retirement scheme operates, that the early retirement pension may only be paid as a supplement to any national retirement pension payable. This means that any national retirement pension to which a participant becomes entitled, whether before or after entry to the scheme, must be deducted from the early retirement pension. The overpayment in this case arose because the person named was, for a time, receiving both a national retirement pension from the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the full amount of the early retirement pension.
My Department is obliged to recover, within a reasonable period of time, all overpayments under the scheme. However, my officials always attempt to reach arrangements that take account of individual circumstances and they will contact the person named in the near future to discuss his situation with a view to reaching agreement on an acceptable repayment schedule.
