170 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a pension paid under the early retirement scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is not index linked. [4330/02]

The rate of pension payable under the 1994 early retirement scheme is the maximum permitted under the EU Council Regulation 2079/92 under which the scheme was introduced. The regulation does not provide for indexation of payments.

Question No. 171 resubmitted.