Vol. 508 No. 1
322 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when his Department will pay the balance of a farm retirement pension to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny which is currently overdue and was promised in June 1999. [17729/99]
The Council of Ministers has agreed that compensation will be paid over the next three years to participants in the schemes affected by reductions arising from the introduction of the euro. Full compensation, with 100 per cent funding by the EU, will be payable for the reduction in 1999 pensions to participants who joined the scheme prior to 1998. Approval of the EU Commission is necessary before compensation will be paid. It is hoped that the Commission will give the necessary approval by the end of November, and once such a decision is received payment will issue as soon as possible. Two further tranches of compensation at reduced levels will be paid.
323 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in payment of a farm retirement pension to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when the pension will be paid. [17730/99]
The person named applied for an early retirement pension on 12 April 1999. Due to the volume of work a backlog has arisen in the processing of applications. Applications are dealt with in order of receipt and this case will be processed within the next six weeks. I would point out, however, that in no case does the processing time result in a financial loss to a retiring farmer. The operational procedures for the scheme specifically ensure that the date of receipt in the Department of a valid application determines the date from which payment is made.
