Sinn Féin moves on pensions anomaly

SINN FÉIN is seeking a meeting with ministers Mary Coughlan and Seamus Brennan to discuss an anomaly in a new pension scheme as it relates to farmers.

Deputies Martin Ferris and Sean Crowe said farmers in receipt of the non-contributory old age pension are excluded from the new scheme which is to come into effect at the end of this month. They said the scheme will allow those receiving the pension to earn up to €100 a week without affecting their benefits. However the scheme will not apply to around 15,000 farmers.

Mr Ferns said, from talks with some department officials, the exclusion may be due to an oversight.