Pat Breen
Ceist:120 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans he has to increase the allowance payable to those in the farm retirement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4845/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 18 February 2004
Ceisteanna (53)
Freagraí scríofa
The rate of pension payable under the 1994 early retirement scheme is the maximum provided for by the EU Council regulation under which the scheme was introduced.
My Department's proposals for the current early retirement scheme, which is one of the measures in the CAP rural development plan for the period 2000-06, included provision for annual increases in pension over the period of the plan. The European Commission rejected this proposal and insisted that a fixed rate be set instead. My Department then proposed a rate that was the average of the scale initially proposed. This was acceptable to the Commission and is the rate provided for in the new scheme. There are no plans to increase the rate payable under this scheme.