Vol. 494 No. 4
87 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if it is in keeping with the spirit of the EU farm retirement scheme that persons with an entitlement to a social welfare contributory pension are not entitled to the maximum farm retirement pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18453/98]
The position is that the scheme of early retirement from farming is being implemented under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2079/79. It is a requirement of that regulation that the amount payable by way of the early retirement pension together with any national retirement pension cannot exceed the maximum which would be payable under the early retirement scheme. In other words, on qualifying for a national retirement pension, which includes a contributory old age pension, at age 66, the amount of the early retirement pension is reduced by the amount of the national retirement pension.
