Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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209. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend farm relief for farmers over 66 years of age in view of the fact that the pension age will increase to 67 in January 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30656/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” sets out how the planned increase in the State pension age next year will be deferred and it will remain at 66 years pending the report of the Commission on Pensions. The Government announced, as part of Budget 2021 that this will require amendment to primary legislation and the Government will bring the necessary legislation before the Oireachtas later this year.

The public policy and social issues in relation to funding a sustainable and adequate State pension system are complex. Therefore the Government is establishing a Commission on Pensions to examine a range of issues including contributions, calculation methods, sustainability, eligibility and intergenerational fairness.

Once it has concluded its deliberations, the Commission will report to Government by June of next year. In the meantime, pending its report and decisions taken on its recommendations, the Government has clearly stated that the State Pension Age will remain at 66 years.

I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.