Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 6

Written Answers. - Farm Retirement Scheme.

John Perry

Ceist:

166 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 284 in September 1999, his attention has been drawn to the fact that participants in the farm retirement scheme have not yet received euro rate conversion payments; the progress made on the approval of the EU Commission; if agreement will be reached on the exact commencement date of payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10475/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh):

The Council of Ministers approved the payment of compensation over three years to participants in the schemes affected by reductions arising from the introduction of the euro.

Full compensation was approved for losses arising in 1999 and this has now been paid to all those participants in the early retirement scheme who qualified – the last of these payments issued in March. The council approved compensation at a reduced rate in respect of losses in 2000 and 2001, but arrangements for payment have yet to be confirmed by the European Commission.