“Double” farm pensioners billed by Department for overpayments

THE Department of Agriculture and Food is clawing back over-payments from 968 participants in the Early Retirement Scheme (ERS).

The clawbacks are “significant”, according to Limerick East Fine Gael TD Michael Noonan, who asked Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh in the Dail about the billing of the retired farmers, many of whom have transferred all assets to their family.

Minister Walsh said most of the overpayments arose because ERS participants, or their spouses or partners in joint management cases, were receiving contributory or non-contributory old age pensions, which were not being offset, as required by EU regulations, against their ERS pensions.