Vol. 498 No. 1
187 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if consideration will be given to disregarding any social welfare pension payment made to either the recipient or a spouse in any review of the early retirement from farming pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26590/98]
The position is that the scheme of early retirement from farming is being implemented under Council 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 at age 66, the amount of the early retirement pension is reduced by the amount of the national retirement pension.
As the scheme is approved and part financed by the EU Commission under Regulation 2079/92, my Department has no discretion in the matter.
