Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

As I outlined in my initial response to the Deputy, it is not possible to apportion any of the funding available to our Department through EMFAF to the income support he talks about. As he knows, and as is the case with farm assist, income support comes through the Department of Social Protection. While that does not fall within my responsibility, I am happy to have a conversation with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, on that. I am also conscious that the supports that are generally available through the Department of Social Protection are funds for individuals in really difficult circumstances. They are not seen as income support. They are really a means to allow individuals to get through a really difficult time, whether it be fluctuations of income or whatever. They are means tested and not really designed to be income supports. I am happy to communicate with the Minister but I do not want to give the Deputy false hope either.

The Deputy talks about the disparity between the numbers of those who are engaged in the sector and those who are drawing down those income supports. I am conscious that no more than in farming, there are some part-time fishermen and fisherwomen who operate in that sector and have income from other sources so their combined income would certainly put them outside the threshold of means testing. It is important to put that on the record as well.

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