Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not wish to be too early in wishing you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the very best, as I believe the election is not to be held until the spring. I am still working out what the interpretation of the Irish spring is, but the daffodils are up in my garden so perhaps the spring is very close. However, I do not wish to make light of the issue the Deputy raises as it is very important.

This Government supports farming families. The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to the jobseeker's allowance scheme. 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 2016 Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure of almost €85 million on the farm assist scheme, with approximately 8,800 individuals receiving a weekly payment under the scheme.

Changes introduced in the budgets of 2012 and 2013 brought farm assist into closer alignment with the jobseeker's allowance scheme's treatment of self-employed persons. However, it should be noted that farm assist customers continue to receive more beneficial treatment than other self-employed persons as payments received under the agri-environment options scheme or special area of conservation schemes are assessed separately from other farm income. With regard to this income, the first €2,540 is disregarded, then 50% of the balance and related expenses are disregarded, with the balance being assessed as means. The assessment of means for the purpose of qualifying for farm assist is designed to reflect the actual net income and looks at gross income, less any expenses necessarily incurred, from farming.

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 situation. I outline in the formal written reply items with regard to the recent flooding, humanitarian grounds and the emergency fodder scheme.

The farm assist scheme must be kept under ongoing review by my officials from a policy and administration point of view. It is important to note that the farm assist scheme remains a flexible payment and that any farmer experiencing lower levels of income or cashflow issues, due, for example, to the recent bad weather, may ask his or her local Intreo office to review the level of means applying to his or her claim. The Deputy mentioned in particular the forms for review of the payment and the provision of an appropriate period to allow people to fill in the forms. As the Deputy has raised it with me, I will look at the forms and see if it is necessary to extend the time for review. I will talk to my officials tomorrow about that to see exactly where we are.

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