Vol. 529 No. 1
359 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason farm retirement pension was terminated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30578/00]
It is a condition of the scheme of early retirement from farming that participants must apply to the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, on reaching their 66th birthday, for both the contributory and non-contributory old age pension. If a pension is awarded it must be offset against the farm retirement pension. Participants in the scheme are told of this condition when they join and are required to notify my Department if they are awarded an old age pension.
The person named reached 66 years of age on 7 May 2000 and became entitled to a contributory old age pension from that date, but he did not inform my Department. My Department became aware of the position in September 2000. As his old age pension was greater than his early retirement pension, payment of the early retirement pension ceased automatically. An overpayment had also arisen in respect of previous months. My Department, to comply with its obligations in respect of EU funds, has no option but to recover this overpayment in full. The person named has been informed of the position and my officials are available to discuss with him the terms on which he will make repayment of the amount he owes.
