Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. Farm assist recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance scheme, such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2015 Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure of almost €89 million on the farm assist scheme.

Changes introduced in budgets 2012 and 2013 have brought farm assist into closer alignment with the treatment under the jobseeker’s allowance scheme of self-employed persons. Farm families with the lowest income were least affected by these changes as the headline rates of farm assist were maintained.

Last year, the Christmas bonus was reintroduced, payable at 25% of the weekly rate. This year, I am in a position to provide a 75% Christmas bonus payment for all long-term welfare recipients, including recipients of farm assist. All recipients, with children, of farm assist are benefitting from the increase in child benefit of €5 per month per child as announced in budget 2015. In addition, farm assist recipients eligible for the fuel allowance will gain from the increase in January of €2.50 per week, from €20 to €22.50 per week, over the fuel season. Recipients of farm assist will see a significant improvement in their payments. In particular, the Christmas bonus will constitute a significant payment to such families.

See this speech in context