Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason farmers are not entitled to draw a non-contributory pension in conjunction with the farm retirement pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13898/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is a requirement of the EU regulations under which both the current and previous early retirement schemes are implemented that the early retirement pension can only be paid as a supplement to any national retirement pension that the participant and his or her spouse or partner in a joint management arrangement receive. Consequently, the value of any such national retirement pension, which includes the non-contributory old age pension, must be deducted from the early retirement pension.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason farmers are not entitled to draw a contributory pension in conjunction with the farm retirement pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13899/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is a requirement of the EU regulations under which both the current and previous early retirement schemes are implemented that the early retirement pension can only be paid as a supplement to any national retirement pension that the participant and his or her spouse or partner in a joint management arrangement receive. Consequently, the value of any such national retirement pension, which includes the contributory old age pension, must be deducted from the early retirement pension.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a farmer must inform the Department of Agriculture and Food of his or her social welfare entitlements; her plans to automate this system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13900/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is a requirement of the EU regulations under which both the current and previous early retirement schemes are implemented that the early retirement pension can only be paid as a supplement to any national retirement pension that the participant and his or her spouse or partner in a joint management arrangement receive. This means the value of any such national retirement pension must be deducted from the early retirement pension.

On entering the schemes, participants signed an undertaking to comply with the requirements, among which it is stated that the pension can only be paid as a supplement to a national retirement pension. The onus remains primarily on the scheme participant to inform my Department of his or her entitlement to a national retirement pension. As a further safeguard against unintentional overpayments, however, my Department and the Department of Social and Family Affairs co-operate in the routine exchange of information and are currently in discussion about ways in which this can be improved further.