Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as a Topical Issue. It is an appropriate time for it. I apologise for the absence of the Minister for Social Protection who is otherwise engaged and for whom I am deputising.

The farm assist scheme referred to by the Deputy is based on jobseeker's allowance. It was introduced in 1999 to replace smallholder's unemployment assistance for low income farmers, without the requirement to be available for and genuinely seeking work. Farm assist recipients retain all the advantages of the jobseeker's allowance scheme such as retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes.

Budget changes over the past two years have brought the more beneficial treatment of farm assist claimants relevant to the treatment of other self-employed persons who would be claiming jobseeker's allowance to an end. This ensures greater consistency in the treatment of all self-employed persons in both farm assist and jobseeker's allowance.

The 2013 budget changes increased the amount of means from self-employment which is assessed against the claim from 85% to 100% and discontinues means testing disregards for child dependants of claimants.

The headline rates for farm assist are being maintained, therefore, farm families with the lowest income will be least affected by these changes. Farm assist remains a flexible payment and any farmer experiencing lower levels of income or cashflow issues due, for example, to bad weather can ask his local welfare office to review the level of means applying to his claim.

The assessment of means for the purpose of qualifying for farm assist is designed to reflect the actual net income and considers gross income from farming, less any expenses necessarily incurred. Income and expenditure figures for the preceding year are generally used as an indicator of the expected position in the following year. However, account is taken of any exceptional circumstances so as to ensure that the assessment accurately reflects the current position.

It may be noted that the farm assist means test continues to offer distinct advantages to farmers. For example, payments received under the agri-environment options scheme or special areas of conservation schemes are assessed separately from other farm income. With regard to this income, the first €2,540 is disregarded and 50% of the balance and related expenses are disregarded, with the balance being assessed as means.

In addition, farm assist participants can participate in the rural social scheme. This scheme provides additional resources to maintain and improve local amenities and facilities in rural communities. Communities benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fisherpersons, while participants experience opportunities to improve existing skills or develop new skills, and perform valuable work in the community.

Any proposals to change the existing structure of the scheme would be for Government to consider in a budgetary context.

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