Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
366 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will waive or reduce the overpayment in a person’s (details supplied) in County Sligo early retirement pension in view of the fact that they have limited finances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28941/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a requirement of EU Council Regulation 1257/1999, under which the early retirement scheme was introduced, that the early retirement pension may be paid only as a supplement to any national retirement pension payable. This means that any national retirement pension to which a participant becomes entitled, whether before or after entry to the scheme, must be deducted from the early retirement pension.
The overpayment in this case arose from the fact that the person named was, for a time, receiving both an old age contributory pension and the full amount of the early retirement pension. My Department is obliged to recover all overpayments under the scheme, which is co-funded by the European Union. However, my officials will give very sympathetic consideration to any proposals the person named may wish to make to repay the debt over a period.
