Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason recipients of the early retirement scheme payment (details supplied) in County Wexford are unable to receive their payment to credit unions; when she will rectify this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16162/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Under EU rules, my Department is obliged to make all payments under EU funded or co-funded schemes, including pension payments under the Early Retirement Scheme, directly by electronic fund transfer into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries as and from 16 October 2008, the commencement of the 2009 EU financial year. The existing situation in which payments may issue by cheque will continue until 16 October. As the designated paying agency for EU funds, my Department is obliged to adhere to these arrangements and has notified the new requirement to farmers on several occasions, including in the last week or so.

I understand that only a limited number of Credit Unions are currently in a position to handle direct payments by electronic fund transfer to customer accounts. For this reason, farmers who have notified my Department of a Credit Union Account may not be in a position to receive electronic payments. The introduction of this facility is a matter for each Credit Union and my Department will issue electronic payments to every Credit Union which has the arrangements in place to accept them. Banks and building societies also accept electronic payments and I understand that Postbank will facilitate the electronic transfer of funds to accounts held with it through the Post Office branch network in the very near future.