Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding an application under the early retirement scheme 2007 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the steps he is taking to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12321/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is not at present in a position to grant the continuation of a deceased participant's pension to his or her dependants. Since the first Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming was introduced in 1994, it had been my Department's practice to continue to do so. However, following audits of the Scheme by both the European Court of Auditors and the European Commission, the Commission informed my Department that this practice is not compatible with the current EU governing Regulations and must be discontinued.

The Commission has only recently formally communicated its decision to the Department. This decision is currently under consideration by my officials.